LOUIS TRICHARDT – One of this region's oldest and well-known residents, Friede Hoffman, passed away on February 2.

Friede was born in the Eastern Cape and raised in the Transkei. Her family was big, happy and endured poverty with cheerfulness that only God's grace can impart. The girls sacrificed their education so that the boys could matriculate. At the age of 16 she found employment as governess of three small children. This meant leaving home and making the long trip to Middleburg in the Transvaal.

Her adventurous spirit and love for travel was probably awakened by this and nothing delighted her more than to discover something new. She met her husband, Paul, in Botshabelo and after their engagement she spent a year with her future mother-in-law at the mission station at Kratchenstein near Houtbosdorp. Friede and Paul were married in 1933 in Bronhorstspruit.

Friede was a good athlete, excelling at hockey and tennis. At the last, when her body was emaciated by age, her handshake was still as strong as a young person's. They had four children. Heidi, the oldest, tragically died in a horrible accident when she fell into a tub of boiling water while still a toddler. Martin, Ingrid and Anton were all born in Middleburg. The family moved to Boksburg when Paul was promoted to Inspector of Schools and finally to Pietersburg where he became Regional Director of Schools.

Friede was full of energy and spent it on an adventurous life. Picnics were a regular feature of family life and she often took the children on holiday. In Pietersburg she was actively involved in Child Welfare. She came to know Christ personally as her Saviour in the mid 1960's. Her spiritual development was remarkable. She was active in Bible Study and she prayed twice daily for each of her children, grand children and great grand children by name to the last. She met her death when she was busy praying, incidentally praying for her death. She lapsed into a coma and passed away.

Friede is survived by her grateful children (Martin, Ingrid and Anton), grand children (Heidi, Mark, Cindy, Sonia, Anton, David, Tanya, Roger and Martyn) and ten great grand children. A memorial service will be held for her on February 10 at 14:00 at the Baptist Church.

The family thanked Ons Tuiste Ouetehuis for their wonderful care, as well as Dr Smalle for always being there for her.