It is with sadness that the family of Maria Rempel announces her passing on Christmas Day at Bow View Manor in Calgary Alberta.
Maria was born in the family home in Renata BC on October 9, 1921 to Jacob and Elisabeth Reimer. She spent her childhood in Renata working in her father’s orchard. The middle of five children, Maria was only 13 years old when her mother passed away. She married William Rempel and together they raised 9 children in a log house in Renata until moving to Castlegar in 1965. In 2007 she moved to Calgary to live with daughter Cheryl eventually moving to Bow View Manor.
Maria was predeceased by her parents, her husband William (1996), daughter Jackie Yocom (1999), granddaughter Susan Merrilyn Speirs (2002), daughter Judy Elliot and son-in-law William Elliot (2010), her sister Elisabeth Williamson (1996), her brothers Jacob (1999) and Frank (2003 ) and eldest sister Susan Doell (2012).
Maria is survived by her daughter Kathy Turner, Elaine Letain (Dan), son Bob (Corinne), daughter Joanne Baker (Harold), son Gerry (Carolyn), daughter Cheryl Smith and son Ron, 21 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Maria at the Castlegar Funeral Chapel on January 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Funeral arrangements are under the care of McInnes and Holloway Funeral Homes in Calgary and the Castlegar Funeral Chapel.