MARY HADDER (STEMPNIK)

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MARY HADDER (nee STEMPNIK) After a glorious life of 98 years, sadly, our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary Hadder peacefully passed away on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. Mary was born on August 7, 1914 in Cooks Creek, MB. She was the daughter of Szymon and Anastazya Stempnik. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph, of 50 years, her mother and father, and brothers Walter, Stanley, Joseph and Mike, and her sister Annie. Left to mourn her passing are her youngest brother Edward and her "most beautiful family in the whole wide world", Lloyd (Steffie) Hadder and children Michael (Pam), Kim (Dave), Matthew (Jill), and Mark (Sharon) and daughter Lorraine (Allan) Compton and children Tamara (Grant), Darryl (Dawn), and Ryan (Carrie) as well as her 19 great-grandchildren and Jeff (Lori). Mary's accomplishments include a lifetime of care giving and loving; she was one of the few human beings who could love unconditionally. She was well known for single-handedly catering large home cooked meals and offering hospitality at all hours of the day and night. A great source of pride was producing garden vegetables of high quality that often came peeled or shelled for family members' use. Mary not only managed household duties, raised her two children and put many long hours into farming; she became as proficient on the tractor as she was in the kitchen. Her faith and the church of St. Michael's in Cooks Creek always played a big part in her life and this faith was passed on to her family. Mary was the first president of the Ladies Altar Society, formed in 1956 at St. Michael's and has been a member of the Catholic Women's League (CWL) since its inception. Mary's favourite quote was "God has blessed me with time and good health and I've enjoyed every moment". As matriarch of the family, her power of prayer during a private candle light vigil reassured and comforted us in time of need. Mary was also known as a sports enthusiast. She played baseball and got great pleasure in clobbering baseballs into the field for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was also a notorious Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan and would always cheer loudly. The family would like to thank the staff (her angels) at Kin Place Personal Care Home in Oakbank for their kind and compassionate care. A celebration of Mary's life will take place at St. Michael's Church in Cooks Creek, MB (#68152 Highway 212) on Saturday, June 8 at 10:30 a.m. Donations may be made to the Sun Room Project at Kin Place PCH, Box 28, Oakbank, MB, R0E 1J0 or to the Cemetery Fund at St. Michael's Parish, Box 6, Grp. 22, RR2, Dugald, MB, R0E 0K0. www.seasonsfunerals.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 07, 2013