Obituary of Mary Kitteringham

(Mary) Louise Kitteringham passed away peacefully at the Jubilee Home, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Sunday, January 1, 2012 at the age of 90 years. She was predeceased by her husband (Bill) Alfred William Kitteringham March 30, 1998. Louise will be missed by her children Lorne (Irene) Kitteringham of Lacombe, AB; Alfred (Emily) Kitteringham of Calgary; Lorraine (Vic) Fleming of Calgary; Elaine (Stan) Gerber of Leduc; Larry (Robyn) Giroux of Revelstoke; Judy (Jim) Reinhart of Lloydminster; Josie (Darhl) Senft of Red Deer; Jack Kitteringham of Lloydminster; Maralynn (Ken) Earl of Kitscoty; David (Angie) Kitteringham of Lloydminster; Bernadette (Bob) Aultman of Lloydminster; 30 grand children and 84 great grandchildren; 7 siblings: Edward Almond of Medicine Hat; Betty Kovac of Burnaby, BC; Ernest Almond of Rutland, BC; Dorothy Tipper of Calgary; Stella Knorr of Rutland; Wesley Almond of Rutland; and Tina Burian of Rutland. She was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Ruby Almond of Rutland; Agnes and Harry Hippe of Lloydminster; Joe Almond, Jr of Lloydminster; Fred Almond of Calgary; and David Almond of Rutland and many nieces and nephews. Louise was born April 18, 1921 to Joseph and Ruby Almond northeast of Lloydminster in a rural area known as Northminster, Saskatchewan where she later attended school. She grew up on the Hudson Bay land near "the gully". She was the 2nd eldest of 12 children. She had many fond childhood memories, times she shared with her many brothers and sisters and her parents. Everyone was fascinated by her stories about the horse and buggy days, all the family and community picnics, the old time dances, swimming in the sloughs and creeks, small family ball games, going hunting with her parents to get a partridge, milking cows and playing with the calves'. On summer evenings Louise and her siblings would sing and yodel cowboy songs on the west hillside of the gully; their voices echoing far down into the valley. That's likely where grandma got her love of music and she had a lovely voice. She taught herself to play the guitar and one time she entered a singing contest in Northminster and won first prize. In later years she sang and played her blue guitar on the CKSA talent show in Lloydminster. Lou was always singing and humming to herself. She even taught herself to tap dance from a book. She carried that love of music to her children teaching them to sing and dance at every opportunity. Another passion of grandma's was horses. She was a master horsewoman and it was a lifelong love. We don't remember ever going to the farm when there were not horses around. She would love to take any or all of us out to the pasture to show them off. There was Dancer the palomino that she rode in the Lloydminster Parade, there was Babe who she roped on at the fair and won 2nd prize and beloved Bo. One image that likely stands out for many of us is the picture of Lou and Agnes standing on the backs of their horses. Lou loved to spend her time after school practicing trick riding with Agnes as they raced home at the end of the day. It's appropriate then, that the man she married entered her life on horseback, riding into the yard one day. Bill Kitteringham and Louise were married and raised their 10 children in the Greenwood District, northeast of Lloydminster until 1954 when they moved into Lloydminster. At that time Louise took a job as a waitress at Stella's Lunch located just west of where Arby's is today. From there she worked at Esso Eats, later called Big J Esso, now West End Esso. She worked at Jasper Market as a sales clerk. She later started her career as a nursing aid at the Auxiliary Hospital. She was honored for her dedication and kindness to patients during her years of service at the Auxiliary Nursing Home. God showered many graces and blessings on her children due to the merits of their mother; due to her goodness and prayers, sacrifices and humility. We thank her for her commitment to us. She died as she lived-courageous to the end; giving everything. Those who loved Louise remember her as passionate at being a skating judge, horse-back riding and giving all her children and grandchildren rides on the horse which was one of her greatest loves. She drafted and sewed her daughter's clothes and taught them to sew. She was loving, caring, hard working, resourceful, and tenacious. She was always pleasant and easy going with a smile on her face and she never said a bad word about anyone. Her later years were difficult, as one by one, she had to give up her passions. For the out of town relatives who were unable to attend the prayer service we thank you for your tributes. CARDS OF THANKS: to the two oldest granddaughters Maria Johnson and Wanda Grisak who wrote and delivered the eulogy for the prayer service. music ministry: Jason & Janelle Reinhart, Connelly family and Vanessa Fleming, (grandchildren). pallbearers: Ernest Kitteringham; Richard Fleming, Glen Kitteringham; Jessy Aultman; Jody Aultman; and Nathan Blair (grandsons). McCaw Funeral Service Ltd. Of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements and made this time of loss so much easier. Interment at the Lloydminster Cemetery. Fr. Jan Sobkowicz for officiating at the Prayer Service and Funeral Mass conducted from St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church Thursday, Jan 6th, 2012 ; nurses, staff, and doctors at the Jubilee Home for their care and concern; CWL for preparing and serving the lunch; acolytes Rose Cressman and Theresa Lacombe; lectors John Connelly, Elaine Gerber and Brooke Magnin (granddaughter); alter servers Zachariah Connelly and Eric Reinhart (great-grandsons); bringing up the gifts Jenny, Hannah, & Beth Connelly and Monique Reinhart (great-granddaughters). Thanks to all those who offered their condolences, prayers, who gave donations, food and flowers. Thanks to all who helped us celebrate our mothers' life. Donations may be given to St. Anthony Roman Catholic Church building fund. The family of Louise Kitteringham