Obituary of Verlene Isabel Fecho

Verlene Isabel Fecho (Pfahl) passed away peacefully on July 9, 2023, at the Hanna Hospital at the age of 90.

Verlene was born on March 17, 1933, to Otto and Bertha Pfahl in the Par District, 20 miles south of Hanna. She had two sisters: Violet and Shirley.

When Verlene was three years old, her family moved seven miles southwest of Hanna. She attended the local farm school, Golden Hill School from kindergarten to grade three. They lived there until her parents decided to move to town in 1943.

Verlene enjoyed helping her dad on the farm and when they moved to town. At the age of four, she would carry the water jug to the men and horses for a drink when they were working the fields. When living in town, she continued helping her dad with little jobs.

Verlene attended school in Hanna, and when she was old enough, she would babysit after school for the neighbor children and earned $0.25/night! In the summer, Verlene would work at the Hanna Hospital kitchen, and for Warwick Ladies Wear.

Verlene met her future husband Arnold Fecho at the age of fifteen.  Arnold worked on the railroad and farmed. On October 1952 Verlene married the love of her life, Arnold.  They moved to the family farm twelve miles north of Hanna in the Dowling District, where she raised chickens, cows, and pigs.

On July 24, 1953, Verlene and Arnold were blessed with their only child, Wayne Arnold Fecho. Verlene was mostly a stay-at-home mom, helped on the family farm and in 1958 she went to work at Flemings Ladies Wear for approximately five years.

In 1990 Verlene and Arnold moved to Hanna. Wayne and Debbie took over the farm and Arnold would come out to help Wayne.

Verlene moved to Manor 2 after Arnold passed away in February 2011. She enjoyed taking care of the flowers at the Manor and did a beautiful job in doing so. Verlene resided at the Manor until her passing.

Spending time with her family, choir singing, tending to flowers, the Lutheran Quilting Group, decorating the church each season and ceramics with friends at Edna Weich’s house were some of Verlene’s favorite pastimes.

Verlene will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.

She is survived by her loving son: Wayne (Debbie) Fecho; three granddaughters: Shannon (Cameron) Stadnyk, Kari (Jeremy) Raugust, and Tammy (Russ) Weigum; nine great grandchildren: Kaylee, Caleb, and Taylor Stadnyk, Micah, Josie, and Bradon Raugust, Riley, Dawson and Abigail Weigum; sister Violet Metzger and many special relatives.

Verlene was predeceased by her husband Arnold; parents: Otto and Bertha Pfahl; sister Shirley Beck; brothers-in-law: Alfred Beck and Melvin Metzger.

A memorial service will be held on Monday July 17, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hanna. Interment will take place at the Hanna Cemetery prior to the service.

If desired, donations in memory of Verlene can be made directly to: STARS, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 8M7, Hanna Redeemer Lutheran Church, Box 746, Hanna, AB, T0J 1P0 or to a charity of your choice.

Hanna Funeral Services has been entrusted with the care and arrangements, 403-854-5956, www.hannafuneral.ca.