Obituary of Margaret Jean Hemstock

HEMSTOCK ~ Margaret Jean Hemstock passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the age of 85 years. Jean is survived by her daughter, Wendy (Brian) Keeley; her son, John Hemstock; four grandchildren: Amy (Trevor) Hill, Colleen (Shawn) Hughes, Michael Keeley and Whitney (Nathaniel) Jones; six great granddaughters: Kayla and Shanelle Hill, Madysson, Chelsea and Gracie Hughes and Zenobia Jones; brother-in-law, Jerald (Irma) Hemstock; sister-in-law, Veda Kirkness; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. James (Jim) Hemstock; son, David Hemstock; and a granddaughter, Kelsey Hemstock. The funeral service was held at Grace United Church, Lloydminster on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. Jean was born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on August 8, 1927 to Ernest and Margaret Fairey with an older brother, Walter. She attended school in Lloydminster, skipped a grade and then went on to Business College. She married Dr. James (Jim) Hemstock on May 2, 1947 and they went on to have three children, David James, Wendy Jean and John Walter. Jean was very active in Grace United Church being the organist and in the choir for more than forty years, one of the original group of Celebration Bell ringers, belonging to the Jean Whittier UCW unit and serving on may church committees. After Jim's retirement they spent some winters in Mesa, Arizona with their good friends the Nelson's and Braden's. This is where Jean found her love of stained glass and spent her time in the craft shop doing stained glass and hence upon the death of Jim and her son David a couple years later she decided to hire someone to do the stained glass window in their memory that is presently at Grace United Church. Jim and Jean spend a lot of time traveling to different countries with their friends and loved entertaining when at home. Jean was a very graceful woman and would be one of the first to visit someone at home, take them a rose from her garden or something to cheer them up. Her musical talent was a special gift that she enjoyed right up until her Alzheimer's became so advanced. Most of the weddings, church services and funerals at Grace United would find her playing the organ. We would like to thank the Dr. Cooke Nursing Home and Dr. Cavanagh for the excellent care she received while living there the last few years. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements.