Alma Ruth Graumann

Alma was a feisty, fun loving gal. Alma would stand up to anyone if she thought she was right. Alma loved her Savior, loved bible study with friends, praying for everyone and ended every phone call by “God be with you.” Alma went into His loving arms on Monday April 19, 2021.

She was baptized on Sept 16, 1956 and confirmed on April 5, 1970 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Beach Corner, AB. Alma grew up in the Hubbles Lake district, northwest of Stony Plain on a farm. Unfortunately, at the age of 3 years, she went into convulsions, which lead to brain damage due to lack of oxygen. Alma had to relearn how to walk, talk, and toilet train. This, also, left her mentally challenged.

Alma attended school in Stony Plain and did very well. A big thanks to Lillian Berndt for teaching her how to read and write.

Alma loved the farm and all animals with dogs being her favourite. As a child, she would play among the chickens in the yard and sat on a milk cow’s back, as it was lying down, while mom milked the other cows. If Alma wasn’t with the animals, she could be found swinging on the swing and enjoying the sunshine. Later when the family farm was sold, Dad, Mom and Alma moved to Stony Plain in 1972. She continued to live with Mom for many years. Sometime after, Alma left Stony and lived in various different locations and homes including her own condo in St. Albert. When she sold her condo, Alma moved back to her home town, Stony Plain, in 2004. She lived in a private house and had her own basement suite, while two roommates, Brenda and Wilma, lived upstairs. She was very capable of doing things and looking after herself with help from Rehoboth.

The farm was still, very much, part of her and she enjoyed going out to Joyce & Wilfred’s and Grant & Audrey’s farm every holiday or chance she had. To this day, there are paper borders of farm animals and scenery around her kitchen. Many farm ornaments and pictures decorated her home. She, also, liked bright colors, soft blankets/clothes, and stuffies. Other loves were: going out for COFFEE -the greatest! garlic sausage and perogies; going to music concerts, listening to Country gospel/Old Time country music (especially songs from Alan Jackson); doing her word-search workbooks and getting free books; playing solitaire on her computer; watching nature/animal shows (like Dr. Pol) and game shows. Alma enjoyed water and would sit or float in it for hours.

Alma was a very good bowler and took part in Special Olympics. She came home with many medals.

Alma volunteered at the “Military Family Resource Centre Daycare, St. Albert with a total of 148 hours. She did photocopying, filing, reading stories to the children and helping in the kitchen by doing mountains of dish washing, baking bread and hundreds of cookies for snack times. At Easter, she made egg shaped cookies and decorated them with brightly-colored icing.

Alma did various jobs such as: hotel chambermaid, stripping copper wires, cleaning road signs, church janitor, second-hand store clerk and working at “you-pick” gardens, just to name a few.

Alma travelled to Disneyland twice, Miette Hot Springs twice, Yukon, Jasper, Banff, Kananaskis yearly, summer camps, and two cruises.

She loved to talk and share stories/ information with anyone, including strangers.

Alma’s favorite saying was “I’ll do it later.”

Alma never married or had children but she was part of many families – her immediate and extended family, church, community, and Rehoboth families.

Alma LOVED her HUGS!

This past year has been really hard on Alma because she was a SOCIAL BUTTERFLY! She loved to go anywhere even if it was just a drive. Alma enjoyed coming to our farms and spending holidays and was not able to do so because of Covid!! This also prevented Alma and Brenda from attending church every Sunday at St. Matthew.

Alma was predeceased by her parents – Ferdinand & Mary Graumann; brothers – Ronald, Bobby, Walter and wife Lynne Graumann; brother-in-law – Grant Gaschnitz; and numerous relatives and friends.

Alma will be greatly missed by her sisters; Joyce (Wilfred) Goerz and family (Tomahawk) and Audrey Gaschnitz and family (High Prairie); Brenda and Wilma, all of her friends and staff at Rehoboth, numerous relatives and friends.

ALMA – you are now free from all the hurts, troubles and disappointments of this earthly life. We miss you deeply! Love you always. Be at peace wrapped in God’s loving arms!

Thanks to each and every person who came into and touched Alma’s life in some way or another.

A big thank you to Parkland Funeral Services & Dignity, Gail Sutherley for putting the music on CD’s, Pastor Buck. A big thank you and appreciation for all the acts of kindness, words of comfort, messages of sympathy and all the support given.