We have known our sister, Eileen, since 1952 when she came to labor in the Lord’s work in Quebec City, having been commended by the Highfield Road assembly in Toronto. We enjoyed her friendship as she often spent Saturday afternoons with us. She taught our children Sunday School, as well. We all loved her very much.
Before coming to Quebec City, Eileen spent seven years in Rollet, a village in northwest Quebec, where she cared for up to 23 children at a Christian boarding school, under the supervision of Vincent and Della Davey. Eileen learned French while working with the children.
In Quebec City, Eileen did door-to-door work with tracts, New Testaments and the gospel message. At that time the population was very religious and the Roman Catholic Church very powerful. Summer and winter, Eileen went up the long stairs knocking on every door. She was often received with aggressive op position, people even calling the police to stop this courageous lady.
Eileen did follow-up work with ladies who showed a spiritual interest or who had requested further information after having received tracts. She was a model of faithfulness and perseverance in this work.
For several years, Eileen lived with an elderly lady. Although living in a very small room she was given to hospitality and sought both to encourage the saints and to witness to the unsaved.
In 1969 she married John Spreeman who had lost his wife several years earlier. They settled in Farnham, a town between Montreal and Sherbrooke. They enjoyed a fruitful ministry pioneering in the area. Many were saved who continue to this day.
Our dear sister’s life can be summarized in three statements:
She was a woman of conviction. Eileen had very strong convictions concerning the Scriptures. She knew what she believed and why she believed it, and she practiced what she believed. She had strong convictions concerning gathering to the Lord’s Name.
She was a woman of compassion. In addition to love for her Lord, her compassion for others motivated her to go from door-to-door, presenting the Savior to others. Many of these souls were sincere, but still lost for eternity.
She was a woman of consecration. She did all as unto the Lord. She was devoted to the task to which her Lord had called her.
The Large funeral in Toronto was shared by Norman Lorimer, Wm. Stainton and Jean-Paul Berney. “Blessed are those who die in the Lord. They rest from their labors and their works do follow them.”
