It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of MaryAnn Hammond of Prince Albert, SK, on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. MaryAnn left behind her loving husband of 59 years, Curtis Hammond; and their eight children, after a brief illness.

MaryAnn was born on January 19, 1947, in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan. She was the first daughter and 4th child of Jack and Helen Heffernan. MaryAnn and her 8 brothers and 2 sisters grew up working on the family farm. This childhood made MaryAnn the hard worker that she was…. a woman who didn’t mind getting her hands dirty and putting in a full day’s work.

In 1964, she met the love of her life, Curtis Hammond, and they married the following year in St. Louis on April 24th. They started their life together in Biggar, where they had their first son, Gordon. They moved to Prince Albert, where over the next twenty years they welcomed 7 more children: Kathleen, C.J, Christine, Amanda, Michael, Adam, and Daniel.

MaryAnn was first and foremost a devoted, doting mother. She would often say that it had been her life’s goal to be a mother. This role that brought her immense joy. When MaryAnn was dating Curtis, she startled him by saying that she hoped to one day have 8 children. Since MaryAnn had helped raise her younger brothers and sisters, she was well acquainted with caring for children. She made it her life’s work to make her children’s childhood special.

She made heavenly home cooked meals from scratch and always had the freezer stocked with delicious baking. She loved that when walking in from the school bus, her children would sniff the wonderful aromas and try to guess what she had made. When her youngest, Danny, started school, MaryAnn started driving the school bus. She was a favourite bus driver who brought a home-made treat for each child every single Friday. She just loved children. She was the consummate hostess- she loved having company and would host many suppers for family and friends. She loved feeding people and serving them. She was constantly trying new recipes and loved to share them excitedly. She knew how to make every honoured guest feel special and loved. MaryAnn thoroughly enjoyed visiting and getting to know a person’s heart. She always listened very intently, and if you ever mentioned in passing anything you liked or wanted, you could likely expect to see that very item with her when you saw her again. She was abundantly generous. A favourite saying of hers was “You can’t outgive God”.

Naturally creative, MaryAnn excelled at sewing and baking. For many years she sewed over 80 garments each winter—even coats, for her family. She also made cakes professionally, not an easy task, especially with many small children. Like her mother, she was a tireless worker with endless lists of what she hoped to accomplish in a day. She was fiercely determined, and when she set out on any task, she would continue until the job was not only completed; it would always be done to the best of her ability and as efficiently as possible.

MaryAnn loved the acreage to which they moved in 1982. She liked to call it “Heart’s content” and even had Curtis make a sign with those exact words at the lane. She did the grueling work of market gardening for years. She had multiple huge gardens and many types of berry and fruit trees. She enjoyed caring for her beautiful flower beds in a number of locations on the property, including Mary’s Garden in honour of Our Lady. MaryAnn was often in awe of the scenery, reveling in the beauty of what God had created.

At the very heart of MaryAnn was an absolute, firm faith. She enjoyed her teen years spent at Sisters of Providence in Prince Albert and had close relationships with many of the nuns. MaryAnn’s personal relationship with Jesus shaped every interaction and decision in her life. She was completely confident in the Lord providing what she would need and did her best to follow His will. She would wake up early before her children rose and would devote time to being with the Lord and reading scripture. MaryAnn was very active in the church, attending daily mass. When her children were older, she joined a Bible study which she
would go on to lead for many years. She also had a leadership role in the Christian Women’s League. She cherished the many friendships she gained. Over the years she worked in many different capacities and touched countless hearts.

MaryAnn really had prepared and lived her whole life knowing this time would come. She looked forward to meeting Jesus at the banquet of the Lord. Heaven will be rejoicing at receiving her in God’s presence.

MaryAnn was predeceased by her parents, Jack and Helen Heffernan; her brothers, Jack and Micheal Heffernan; her son-in-law, Bill Kacuiba; her nephew, Anthony Heffernan; her niece, Colleen Burris and her great grandson, Ace Hammond. MaryAnn was survived by her husband Curtis: their eight children, Gordon, Kathleen (Trent) Sumners, Curtis James, Christine, Amanda Matthew), Rogoschewsky, Micheal (Kassie), Adam and Daniel Hammond; her fourteen grandchildren, Matthew, Melissa, Norman, Kale, Reese, Aydan, Lukas, Alexis, Mason, Hudson, Felix, Wyatt, Lauren and Max; her four great grandchildren, Greyson, Marley, Alice, and Archie; her siblings, Howard (Diane) Heffernan, Pat (Irene) Heffernan, Linda (Archie) Tilford, Paul (Julie) Heffernan, Bob Heffernan, Helen (Darryl) Collister, Harry (Rhonda) and Jerry (Brita) Heffernan; and many beloved nephews, nieces, and friends.

A Prayer Service was held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1401 4th Avenue West, Prince Albert, SK. A Funeral Mass was held at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, August 19, 2024, at St. Joseph Parish, 260 25th Street East, Prince Albert, SK. Following the luncheon, the interment took place at Winton Park Cemetery, Birch Hills, SK.

• Date : 2024-08-14
• Location : Prince Albert, SK