MARY KATHERINA (NEUFELDT) (GIESBRECHT) MARTENS was born on March 2, 1934. Mary passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 23, 2023. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend.

Mary loved hats and early on in her life, she had aspirations of becoming a milliner when she finished high school. After Mary met and eventually married Peter Giesbrecht, she set aside her dream of going into millinery. As Peter was establishing his construction business, Mary and Peter started a family; Mary now worked in the home, cooking, sewing, baking, and looking after the business. In her spare time, Mary did crafts with her sister Anne. Mary even took swimming lessons; unfortunately, these lessons didn`t go so well for her as she dislocated her shoulder while diving shortly after she started her lessons.

Mary was involved in the church throughout her life. She joined the Sunbeam Sewing Circle, and volunteered in the Altenheim and various Mennonite Central Committee projects. She also sang in the church choirs. In 1979, Mom enrolled in an accounting course at the Lethbridge Community College and worked at the Park Place Mall for five years until she took sick.

After Mary and Abe Martens were married, they went to El Salvador with Love In Action. Mary recalled that they worked hard, but that it was a good experience. Mary and Abe also did a lot of travelling and camping. Their most enjoyable trips were to Europe, meeting Abe’s relatives in Bolivia, and repeat visits to Mexico.
In October of 2020, Mary and Abe moved into Legacy Lodge in Lethbridge; Mary resided there until her passing. Mary was the last surviving child of Johann and Kornelia Neufeldt. She will be deeply missed by her immediate and extended family.

Mary is lovingly remembered by her husband Abe and her five children, all of Lethbridge: Liz Paul, Clarence (Barb) Giesbrecht, Vic (Deb) Giesbrecht, John (Kelley) Giesbrecht, and George (Rachel) Giesbrecht, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her sisters-in-law Irma (Abe) Neufeldt and Edna (Peter) Neufeldt, her brother-in-law Art (Elaine) Vanderlinden, Abe’s daughters Mary (Richard) Chervenka, Linda (Jim) Van Bezooyen, Annie Martens, their families, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary was predeceased by her parents Johann and Kornelia Neufeldt, her siblings John (Verna) Neufeldt, Jake (Anne) Neufeldt, Isaac (Eleanor) Neufeldt, Anne (Edwin) Boehr, Kornelia, Marta, Elaine (Joe) (Balla) Vanderlinden, Abe Neufeldt, Aganeta, Maria, Peter (Ella) Neufeldt. Mary was also predeceased by her son-in-law Ken Paul and her step-daughter, Martha Martens.

A Family Viewing will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825-32nd Street South, Lethbridge, AB on Friday, December 29, 2023 from 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

A Funeral Service will be held at the COALDALE MENNONITE CHURCH, 2316 17th St, Coaldale, AB, on Saturday, December 30th, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Eric Giesbrecht officiating.

The Funeral Service will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Mary’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

 

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

• Date : 2023-12-23
• Location : Lethbridge, Alberta