Published in The Lake Report, September 3, 2026, page 22.
Helga Froese-Rahn (née Reimer) of Niagara-on-the-Lake passed away following a brief battle with cancer on Aug. 30, 2026, at the age of 88, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Simonsdorf, West Prussia (Germany) on Oct. 26, 1937, she came to Canada in 1951. She is survived by her children, Ed, Rick (Erika), Debbie (John) Peters; as well as 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Predeceased by her two husbands, Jacob (1988) and Henry Rahn (2023), her brother and sister-in-law, Gerhard (2015) and Ingrid Reimer (2023), and daughter-in-law, Helen (2023).
She will be remembered by her active volunteerism in her church and community which included serving at the Christian Benefit Thrift Store (53 years) and Warehouse of Hope. In 2019 she was honoured to receive the Lord Mayor’s Volunteer Award.
As a younger woman she served on the Niagara Grape Growers Action Committee which was an outspoken advocacy and marketing group formed in the 1970s by women in farm families to support Ontario’s struggling grape and wine industries. She enjoyed weekly meetings, events and social connections with neighbours and the wider grape farming community.
The family will receive friends at Niagara United Mennonite Church, 1775 Niagara Stone Rd. (Hwy. 55), Niagara-on-the-Lake, on Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. for a time of visitation followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment immediately following the service at Niagara Lakeshore Cemetery for those who wish to attend.
If desired, memorial donations can be made to the Mennonite Central Committee or Radiant Care Pleasant Manor.
Online condolences at www.tallmanfuneralhomes.ca.
