March 9, 1928 - January 23, 2022
Cornelia(Cora) Johanna Kemmere passed away at Michener Hill Extendicare in Red Deer, Alberta on Sunday, January 23rd, 2022, at the age of 93 years.
Cora was born in Dorst, NB, Netherlands on March 9, 1928, to Jacobus & Adriana Geerts. With two sisters and four brothers, Cora had a childhood full of family, friends and epic stories and experiences.
Cora often regaled eager listeners with her stories, from being five years old and seeing the Hindenburg flying over their family farm in 1933 to emerging from the cellar after days of hiding from the Nazis as bombs dropped and tanks roared through their neighborhood.
Cora emerged from WW2 as a maturing young lady who enjoyed skating hand and hand with friends on the Dutch canals and dressing up in a special dress, one she likely sewed for herself, to attend local dances: Cora loved to socialize.
It was at one of those dances where Cora met her true love, Joe G. Kemmere. There was a spark between them, with Joe going to much effort to court Cora by riding his bike a considerable distance through the Dutch forest to illustrate his interest. After seven years of commitment, Cora and Joe were married February 16, 1953.
After a month of marriage, the young couple boarded the immigrant ship, “The Groote Bear” (The Big Bear) to Halifax, Nova Scotia and ultimately boarded the weeklong train ride to Calgary, Alberta. With many trials and tribulations learning English, acclimating to a new society and doing whatever work they could to sustain themselves, the opportunity to farm in the Fraser Valley came in 1960. Off they went to Langley, BC to start again.
During this time the Kemmere family grew with four children: Myrna, Albert, Bruce and Sandra. The family worked together and built a productive farm of registered Holstein cattle. At the same time, Cora was a serious homemaker with countless admirable skills. Cora was a member of Lochiel School’s PTA, was a member of the local Catholic Women’s League, designed and sewed her children’s clothing and tended to her inspired flower gardens.
Opportunity knocked again in 1973 to sell the Fraser Valley Farm and return to Alberta. All the purebred cattle were loaded onto four reconfigured rail cars to cross the Rockies over a week. It was an epic and dramatic adventure from start to finish.
A new life ensued, and a much larger dairy operation was created between Bowden and Olds, Alberta. Again, the family worked as a team. Cora created another lovely home for her family to thrive. Cora kept everyone fed and watered all day long, year in, year out for decades.
The 1980’s and 90’s had Cora and Joe traveling across Canada and the United States. Wintering in Arizona was such fun as they socialized and adventured with their many wonderful friends. Cora and Joe eventually moved into Olds in 1997.
In 1999 Joe passed away which was very difficult for Cora, but she managed to open herself up to new friendships and experiences and relied on her faith and volunteerism to get her through.
Cora traveled to Italy, Spain and Portugal with her much beloved friends from St. Stephen’s Parish (Olds) and returned to the Netherlands to see extensive family and friends. Through it all Cora continuously displayed great courage while starting a new life and missing Joe so very much.
Cora made the most of her stay at Seasons Retirement Home in Olds and was consistently immersing herself and supporting the activities offered to her. Again, she made the most of her new environment and spread her sense of fun far and wide: Cora will be remembered as a very funny lady.
Cora is survived by her daughter Myrna (Neil) of High River, AB; son Albert (Kathy) of Olds, AB; son Bruce (Lori) of Olds, AB; daughter Sandra (Lance) of High River, AB; eleven grandchildren, Nicole, Daniel, Angela, Melissa, Stacey, Ashleigh, Sarah, Chelsea, Spencer, Joseph and Sawyer. Much to Cora’s pleasure, she has enjoyed nineteen great grandchildren over the past seventeen years as she never forgot a birthday.
In whatever capacity one would have known Cora, whether Mom, Grandma, “Oma” or friend, she will be greatly missed. Her wonderful sense of humor, storytelling talent and fierce sense of self was notable. All who knew her will have been left with a piece of her formidable spirit and a love for a true original.
A prayer service was held at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church (Olds) on Friday, January 28, 2022, at 7:00 PM as well as a private family mass on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Olds & District Hospice Society. Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be made or viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com
