Mary Josephine Reichert

Maria (Mary)Josephine Reichert was born on June 30, 1935 in Fairview, Alberta to Joseph and Olivia (Shonberger) Hammerschmidt.

She was raised with 2 brothers and a sister on a homestead in the Waterhole area near Fairview, Alberta. In 1939 when the oldest child was of school age they moved closer to Friedenstal School and Church.

Mary met her future husband Joe while he was working on a threshing crew nearby in 1950. They married on Oct 23, 1956. They started out on a rented piece of land in a two room log house with an attic and heated by a wood stove. After having 4 children they found the accommodations too small. Through hard work and perseverance they earned enough to buy their own land in 1961 and had 2 more children.

Mom had a couple paying jobs during her life, nurses aid and custodian at the Fairview Hospital.

Over the years Mom planted and tended to an abundance of gardens producing plenty of fruit and fresh vegetables to keep us fed while also canning enough to see us through the winter. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, crafting, curling, playing cards and reading. She was a great cook and baker. She learnt from her mother and we often requested our favourite childhood recipes when visiting. In recent years as her health worsened she lost most of her vision and couldn’t play cards or read anymore; which depressed her a lot. Thankfully she had a couple ladies who would visit and read to her.

At the age of 89 years, Mom passed away peacefully on July 29, 2024 at the High River General Hospital - Long Term Care, in High River, Alberta. She will be sadly missed by her children Denise, Henry (Kim), Daniel (Jiun), Lawrence (Monica); siblings Joe Hammerschmidt and Tillie Toker; grandchildren Evan (Kim), Ashley, Rachel (Leighton), Courtney (Cody), Rianna and Samantha; great grandchildren Cole, Kaylee, Brianna and Noah.

She was predeased by her husband Joe (June 2023), son Gerald (July 2022), son-in-law Sam (Jan 2022) daughter Cynthia (June 2012), and brother Alvis Hammerschmidt.

A Funeral Mass was Celebrated for Mary at Stephen Catholic Church, 5128 - 53 Street, Lacombe, Alberta on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.

As an expression of symathy memorial tributes may be made directly in Mary's name to the Parkinson Association of Alberta, https://parkinsonassociation.ca/mission-vision-values or the  Canadian Cancer Society at https://cancer.ca/en/ways-to-give/sponsor.

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