Mary (Mariko) Tamura rejoined her husband, Mac, on October 6, 2016. She was also predeceased by siblings, Kazuo, Akiko, Chiyo, and Kazuyuki, and infant granddaughter Jade, but most recently by her brother Mits Iwaasa on October 9th, 2016. Mary was born in New Westminster, B.C. on August 1, 1931 to Tadao and Kimiko Iwaasa. Due to the impending evacuation, Mary and her family moved to Raymond in 1942. After attending school in Raymond, Mary became a nurse’s aide and worked in Gleichen. That nurturing, compassionate personality defined Mary’s way of life for her 85 years. She sewed for, cooked for, and cared for family, friends, neighbours, those who were ill or feeling low, friends of friends, children of friends, calves, dogs, cats and birds! Mary wed Mac Tamura in 1957, moved to Duchess and began the era of “Mac and Mary”. From working in the fields, to being fans at their children’s many sports, to playing cards and drinking coffee at the kitchen table with friends and neighbours, to road trips in the Caddy with pit stops at the VLT’s, it was always “Mac and Mary”. In today’s world, Mary could have hosted her own “Pioneer Woman” TV show. Episodes would have included: “How to Trap Skunks and Relocate Raccoons”, “The Perfect Lemon Meringue Pie”, “How to Label (Everything!)”, and “Yard Clean Up with Matches”. Whole seasons would be devoted to farm yard gardening and landscaping. Her yard was her pride and passion. Mary’s family, Ron and Joy (Brittany, Olivia), Greg and Deb (Mitchell, Jayme), Karla and Neil (Kade, Carter), and Lorna and Gord (Dallas, Rylee); sisters-in-law Clara Iwaasa and Inger Iwaasa and many special nieces, nephews and their families, have been blessed to have lived with the pure determination, tough spirit, and true empathy that was Mom/Granny. Heartfelt thanks to Mary’s dear friends and neighbours, the doctors, nurses, and home care staff at the Brooks Health Centre, and especially to Greg, for caring for Mom and allowing her the independence to stay on the farm that she loved. Funeral services were held on Thursday, October 13th at 2:00 PM from Trinity Lutheran Church. Rev. John Theiss officiated. Interment followed at Brooks Cemetery. In memory of Mary, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Brooks and District Health Foundation, Bag 300, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B3.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND CREMATORIUM, BROOKS, ALBERTA
Condolences may be forwarded through www.sfh.ca
Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free (866) 362-4652
“Our Families Serving Your Family Since 1951”
