We only lived a few miles from church - down South Sumas road. The 59 Oldsmobile had a speedometer that changed color the faster you went -green, orange & red. We'd say to mom, "Make it go red, make it go red!" A couple times she did it.

I always enjoyed Auntie Mary & Uncle Jake's visit to Winnipeg. Last time they came, we had breakfast at the Nervilla. There they were - patiently waiting for us. I will never forget the sight of Auntie Mary sitting there with her little tam perched on her head; such a petite, classy lady. We didn't know then that it would be our last time to laugh and hug each other. Auntie Mary showed unconditional love for her nieces and nephews and she will be greatly missed.

Long before the TV show, Jersey's Shore, was popular, Auntie Mary called me, Snooky. She saw the free-spirited person I was. I heard stories of Auntie Mary. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Mary was heavy-footed, she liked to go fast. Only Uncle Jake will know how many tickets she got or was able to charm her way out of them. Sad to say, a heavy foot runs in the family and I've had to pay a few fines myself.

Megan and I spoke often to our friends in Edmonton about our grandparents who loved life and each other. It was so visible; the laughter and fun. Thank-you grandpa, for that legacy and for the great love of life and loving each other. 
Just one quick story - we were at Kathy Dyck's place. And grandpa had a story. "What's mine is hers and what's hers is none of my business." We just loved that story. Thank-you for all the laughter and loving each other.

When talking with Mom about a book she had just read about a little boy going to heaven, her face lit up. "Yes, I'm going to glory!" What a rich heritage I have! Mom's there and I'm just thrilled with that!

Dad, thank you for taking care of Mom. You were so blessed to have Mom as your wife. And we thank you for the way you stood by her, even these last days. I remember coming to your room and you were in the kitchen trying to help wherever you could. What do you say when the lady who has just died is the one who brought you into this world. I will miss her. Two things. As you know, we lived in Ft. St. John, we told Mom and Dad that we were moving back to the Fraser Valley. And as we coming into the room, we said we sold our house, we're moving back. She had this smile on her face. We said we'd be back in two weeks. She just pointed up. Did she know she know she was not going to make it those two weeks? About 10 days later, we called her on the phone. That was the last time I heard her voice. But Praise the Lord, she is in a better place.

I feel that as nieces and nephews, we need to say something about our Tante Meme. When we were just children we lived in the prairies of southern Manitoba. We were living fairly close -aunts and uncles and grandparents - and we would get together often. And our grandfather was pretty fussy. He didn't want us kids running around getting into his machinery or his fields so guess who had to take care of us - our Tante Meme. While the parents, uncles and aunts, grandparents were visiting, Tante Meme had to take care of us, although I don't think it was such a hardship for her because she was a tomboy. She loved to ride her horses, she loved to play her mouth organ, she could even yodel. I think she could have even given Wilf Carter some competition! She is not the kind that would have enjoyed sitting in the house with her sisters and sisters-in-law, discussing recipes and household hints. So I guess she took the lesser of the two evils by looking after us kids. 
Last night, when I got home from the funeral home, I thought that I had never really thanked her for the time she spent looking after us kids when we were little. That's so often the way it is. When it is too late, you think about what you should have done. But I think she really loved her nieces and nephews because she was always happy to meet us at the A&W. And in the last years, she often told me when they'd go to Winnipeg, how much fun they'd had with all the nieces and nephews, so I don't think she held it against us that she had to look after us and we really want you to know that we appreciated her so much and had pleasant memories.

Uncle Jake. Montana & I, and our children's thoughts and prayers will be with you always and with Aunt Mary. Jesse Neufeld was my mother, Mary's kid sister. Our family will be forever thankful to Uncle Jake and Aunt Mary for the years and the time that they spent helping my mother, while she lived down here and all of us kids lived a long ways away. It was always great to hear Aunt Mary talk about how they had taken Mom downtown (because Mom didn't drive) and helped her shopping. Those were the kind of people they were and they still are today. Aunt Mary will always have a very, very dear place in this guy's heart for what she did. Uncle Jake, you will always be there, right beside her. And we wish you all the best. And we will always be there for you. Remember that. We love you very much!

Auntie Mary called me "Cookie" ever since I can remember. Whenever Aunt Mary & Uncle Jake came to Winnipeg, I saw Mary's sparkling blue eyes and remember how good it felt to feel her hugs and kisses. I felt it was like getting a hug from my mother. I'm grateful for the time we had with her, her sense of humour, her remarkable spirit, and good heart. She will be missed.

We always felt welcome in her home. She'd make the most of anything there that was to eat and was readily available in her kitchen. Auntie Mary was a little bit of a tomboy in her youth and so she was always fun to be with. Even when she got older and wiser, we always loved her laughter, her positive attitude, and she will be greatly missed.

It is with a great regret that I am not able to attend the funeral events with all of you gathered. Perhaps it is the prudent side of Grandma that lives strong in me that prevents me from going. I can imagine Grandma rolling her eyes at all the money and fuss people are making about an old woman dying. She had a way of cutting to the point. 

Being a single and mobile man for so long in my adult life, it enabled me to visit Grandma and Grandpa for meals and talks all by myself. I wasn't with parents, a spouse or kids. Just me, grandpa, grandma and the news followed by Jeopardy. It was during these times that I feel I began to connect to Grandma and understand and admire her as a person. 

Grandpa would ask me why I didn't have a wife. Grandma would come to my defence and tell him to take it easy. Grandpa would in turn tell me that a man wasn't fully a man until he was married. Grandma would again tell him to not pressure me and then try and ask politely if there were any girls in my life. 

Perhaps it is through their prayers that I am now married and have four kids. 

It should be noted that Grandpa and Grandma didn't come to our wedding as they said they didn't have any winter clothes for a Saskatchewan winter wedding and weren't about to buy any. I loved their frankness about it and would have made the same decision if it were mine to make. 

Listening to Grandma and Grandpa speak in a straightforward manner is one of the many things I learned from them and carry with me.  When needed, there was no sugar coating or mincing of words. When I was a chubby adolescent boy, I was encouraged to take more walks and use the stairs, it was good for me.  Grandpa would then take me for a walk that felt more like a jog to my little stubby legs. 

I recall one of my visits for dinner sitting around their table eating cracklings for supper. Grandma made me promise that I couldn't tell anyone what we had for dinner. This was after one of Grandpa's heart attacks. "The kids don't like us eating this," she would say. In all our modern wisdom of consuming margarine and low-fat salad dressings, perhaps it is cracklings and plum-a-mousse that hold the secrets to longevity. 

Years later when I lived in Banff they were travelling through to visit friends and family in Manitoba. The trip hadn't gone quite as planned. They made it to Kelowna and had some car problems. They then went back to Abbotsford bought a new car and continued on the trip. Again Grandma said, "the kids didn't want us to go." The impression I got from Grandma was that they sort of left without telling "the kids" until they were already gone. We met at the A&W in Canmore for breakfast. Their brand new car already had the crocheted seat coverings on it. 

"It isn't very fun getting old," Grandma often told me. She would then smile and her eyes would sparkle. I sometimes wondered when her eyes would sparkle like that if she was remembering her siblings, parents and friends who all passed from this life before her. I imagine the pain of getting older carries a lot more burdens than just our failing physical bodies. 

On a recent phone call with Grandma before they moved from their condo, I was laughing and joking with her. I don't recall all that we talked about but when I hung up the phone, I sat on the couch quietly thinking how incredibly honoured I am to have a Grandma like that. That woman is so smart and alert she is going to live to a hundred I thought.  

I was certainly a skeptic when I heard the news that Grandma was sick. Impossible I thought, she is too tough to be sick. I am so glad my whole family was able to visit her only a few weeks ago. My heart sank when I saw her lying on the couch. She was still able to smile but we both knew it would be the last time we would see each other on this side of heaven. I gave her a hug and whispered into her ear that I loved her. "Ah my mister cheerful she said," again her eyes managed that sparkle. She was at peace. 

I don't think I will ever be able to have a breakfast at A&W and not think of her. Not sure I will order hot water and eat dry toast, but then again maybe I will - in honour of Grandma Stobbe.

I enjoyed seeing the many photos of Mrs. Stobbe and the family.  I recall in the  wonderful Greendale years how my mother (Lena Klassen), on Mondays, would see from the kitchen window that Mary had her laundry out early once again.  Of course, she'd been up early milking cows etc.  I got such a thrill seeing her drive the tractor so I made sure my Dad taught me yo do the same.  During Raspberry season, Mary willingly came over late on Saturdays to make sure the crop came in before the co-op truck arrived.  My parents, Jake and Lena Klassen, always thought they had the best of neighbours who were also close friends.  That friendship continued into their retirement years, with golf and picnic outings.  You had a great Mom.  Marianne Klassen - now Hartman. klass29@telus.net

Dear Jake & Family. Our sincere condolences. During the lonely Hours - dwell on the happy memories. 
Katie & Peter Quiring - Niagara

As our recent neighbor, Mary will be missed. Condolences to Jake and the family- Marilyn & Rudy Hiebert

Our sincerest condolences and best wishes to the entire Stobbe family.

Henry and Ellie.

OBITUARY

Mary Dueck Stobbe

16 May, 1920 – 27 September, 2011

Woodlawn Funeral Home

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