Mary Willms
September 10, 1930 – February 1, 2024
Let us tell you about the most remarkable woman we know, our mom. Her name is Mary Willms and she was a wife, a mother of five, a grandmother of 12 and a great grandmother of 28; but she was so much more than that!
Mary was born in Coaldale, AB to John and Elizabeth Rempel. She was the fourth child of seven in the family. The family moved to Steinbach, MB for her childhood and growing up years. She sang in the choir and her little sister Anne was her best friend. Mom was asked by her father to quit school after grade 10 to take care of her mother who had Parkinson’s disease. She was so mad at her dad that she wouldn’t speak to him for months because she loved school and loved reading. But, because of that she had a sweet and close relationship with her mom. They would go walking and shopping and grandma would talk about things with our mom that she didn’t talk about with anyone else. Later in life, her mom told her dad to buy her a dishwasher as “payment”! It was good practise for all the unexpected things that would follow in her life. Always the optimist, mom saw the best in every situation.
Mom left home to attend Bethany Bible School in Hepburn SK for one year, after which she went on to Business College in Winnipeg, and the first thing she did when she moved away from home was cut off her long hair! She met her sweetheart Frank (and kind of stole him from someone else) and they married in Steinbach MB on July 6, 1952. Two months later, mom was diagnosed with cancer, and the decision was made to move to Saskatoon because there was a brand new Cancer Clinic there. If you’ve ever seen the cobalt machine at the Western Development Museum, you will understand the medical technology that was used on her at that time. She was told not to worry about birth control, as the radiation and subsequent surgeries would affect her ability to become pregnant. Well, one year later she had Richard, so we all know how that worked out. Mom told us many times that whenever she felt she didn’t have a reason to live, God would send her another baby, so she had Donald and Kenneth in quick succession. The surgeries mom endured caused damaged nerves in her neck and gave her chronic pain for her entire life; but a great deal of stubbornness and determination gave her strength every day to be with her husband and children. Together they built a house on 11th Street and their Electrical business thrived. A few years passed and Darlene was born; apparently she thought her daughter needed a best friend too and after another few years she had Janet.
In 1968 our parents built a cottage at Blackstrap Lake, where all the chores were equal opportunity – not only us kids but any of our friends that were there too! Mom was the bun baker, lunch maker, hostess to many for many years. Anyone and everyone was welcome to come for a swim, a boat ride, a meal and a campfire. She loved having company over Sunday nights both at the lake and at home, many desserts and coffees were enjoyed by their multitude of friends. New Year’s Eve parties, complete with homemade potato salad were a hit. Family gatherings were huge and noisy and always fun – mom would be in the center of it all.
Mary was a forward thinker, curious, and continually learning something. She worked alongside our Dad at Mid-West Electric for many years as the bookkeeper. When computers were brand new, she took one apart to see how they worked! She encouraged her children to take music lessons, to be involved in sports, in church, and to excel at work.
Mom and Dad loved to travel! Many trips to Hawaii, cruises to ports far away, and Arizona were highlights for them. They laughed often together, held hands, gave each other funny and generous gifts and took care of each other during the many health issues they weathered together. As children, we knew our parents loved each other and it was a beautiful way to grow up.
Mom loved beautiful things and setting a pretty table for company with china, crystal and silver. She loved colour, she loved flowers, she loved the sweet little gifts her great grandchildren gave her. Going out for lunch or supper was always a hilarious event with laughter and people watching, plus she always would say “lunch is on me!” She spoke so highly of all her children, bragging about our accomplishments and abilities. Any little thing done for her was appreciated, and she could never thank you enough for being kind.
After Dad passed in 2020, we knew mom was lonely, but instead of wallowing, she filled her days getting to know people at the residence where she lived, visiting with her big family, listening to books on CD, and always thinking of something fun to do. She decided to pick up crocheting again, even though her vision was very poor. The afghans she made for family members are cherished because of all the effort that went into making them. Her generosity was legendary, she gave to church, to charities, to family. She was thoughtful and funny, remembered everyone’s story and was truly thankful for everyone who was good to her. Her enthusiasm for Jesus rubbed off on anyone who knew her.
Her priority in life was her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, her husband that she shared life with for 68 years, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She prayed for each and every member of her family by name every day, even to the end of her life. Although her vision had deteriorated, she had a clear picture of each of them in her mind. Mom had tremendous internal strength through her pain filled life, never complaining and always wanting to know what you and your family were up to – she wanted to make sure your life was in order to meet Jesus. One of the last things she did in December was to meet with each grandchild to encourage them and share her love for them.
Mary lived a full and beautiful life – touched by pain but ever faithful to her Lord and to her family. We have never met anyone more excited about heaven and going to see Jesus.
Mary is predeceased by her parents, three siblings (Betty, John, Henry), four infant siblings, her beloved husband Frank and her dearly loved son Donald. Left to remember her full and beautiful life and to carry on her legacy are sons Richard (Shelly), Kenneth (Karen), daughters Darlene Barton (Brian) and Janet Siemens (Jim). And listed here the way mom always prayed for them by name: her grandchildren/spouses and great grandchildren Robert/Jocelyn (Clayton, Braydon, Grace, Jaycene), Jason/Dana (Noah, Arthur), Sheryl/Nathan (Rainn, Madelaina), Bryan/Chantelle (Maksim, Sohla, Saskia), Jennifer/James (Jaime, William, Jack), Andrew/Janette (Maia, Hannah, Esme), Colin/Amanda (Lenyn, Olivia, Ezra), Laura (Lucy, Sam), Kevin/Christine (Jackson, James, Lewis), Ryan/Sarah (Levi, Eloise), Dallas/Anna (Miguel) and Katie.
Our mother was a fierce warrior, an advocate, a woman of faith, a woman of substance and determination with a great deal of stubbornness thrown in…combined with laughter and the endless heart of a mother and her love. She believed in the strength of her family. She was genuinely interested in everyone she met and remembered details most other people would have forgotten. Mom was the pin that held our family together, she was our counsellor and advisor and kick-in-the-pants when we needed it. When our dad passed, she showed us how to mourn and reminded us to think of our heavenly home. She adapted and overcame so many adversities but kept finding reasons to be grateful and joyful every day. She was a mother’s love personified.
A Celebration of Mary’s Life will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 2:00 p.m. at Forest Grove Community Church, 502 Webster Street, Saskatoon, SK.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LIVESTREAM OF THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR MARY WILLMS
(A copy of the livestream will be available to watch after the service has concluded)
Memorial donations can be made to Multiply Canada, #300-32040 Downes Road, Abbotsford, BC V4X 1X5 or to the Canadian Cancer Society
Arrangements entrusted to Dalmeny Funeral Home 306-254-2022.
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