November 1930 - January 2023
Maria (Mary) Feddema passed away January 2023, at the age of 92. Mary was born in November,1930 in the village of Terheijden, province of North Brabant in the Netherlands, to Adrianus and Anna Maria Comelissen. She was the middle sister of three girls, along with six brothers raised in the village of Langeweg. She learned how to work in the family dairy alongside her sisters, while her brothers left the farm to get their education.
She emigrated to Canada in 1951 bringing her bicycle with her, thinking that it would be her transportation. She had no idea how vast this country is. She met her husband, Joe, while she was working at the Westlock Hospital. He had come in with a job-related injury. They were married in December of 1952 in Sundre.
Their marriage began its journey in a home that Joe built on land he purchased at James River. They began with a mixed farm concentrating on chickens and then later added the dairy. From their union ten children were born. As they grew up, they all worked in the dairy, some milking, others growing and producing feed for the cows. Oldest son, Charlie, bought the half-section farm in 1990.
Mary was a dedicated Catholic and was always faithfully in her pew at service time. After all the Feddema children had finished high school, Mary attended Olds college in 1987, graduating with a high school equivalency diploma in 1988.
Mary and Joe retired in 1986, selling their cows and quota and moved 1 half a mile north to another quarter. To make extra income, Mary turned it into a bed and breakfast. Colorful characters came and went, providing companionship to their quieter lifestyle. Joe passed away in 2002. Mary then moved to Red Deer, moving back to a condo in Sundre, and graduating to the new Sundre Lodge in 2016. As her mobility declined, she became a long-term care patient in the Sundre Hospital where a very dedicated team kept her comfortable until her passing.
In 1991 Mary created the Sundre Farmers Market and managed it for ten years. Once again, she met many folks that forged lasting relationships.
Mary leaves behind sons Charlie, Peter, and daughter Sherry also sister Rita and brother John. She was predeceased by four sons and three daughters. She was grandmother to sixteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
A CELEBRATION OF MARY'S LIFE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE FEDDEMA FARM SATURDAY AUGUST 26TH, 2023 AT 2 PM. Friends and family are welcome to come, reminisce and take home a photo album. 50007 Hwy 587 - south side 38 km. west of Bowden and 3 miles east of the James River Store
