FRANCES MARY HUTMACHER

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FRANCES MARY HUTMACHER March 3, 1913 - February 27, 2017 Frances Hutmacher (nee Hoffman) passed peacefully on February 27 just four days short of her 104th birthday. A loving Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Great-Great-Grandmother, Frances took immense joy in her family. Mom often marveled she had lived so long, and what she had witnessed through her long life. Her memory was good to the end, and she enjoyed telling stories of past experiences to all that would listen. A service and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd. Frances was predeceased by her husband Tony Hutmacher and daughter Maureen (nee Hutmacher) Hampton, son-in-law Allen Krentz, daughter-in-law Anna (nee Côté) Hutmacher, her parents Nick and Mary Hoffman, brothers Nick, Bernie and Virgil and sister Celestine. Frances will be missed by her large family including Wayne (Audrey Mulrooney), Myrna Krentz, Cleo (Maureen), Carman (Judy), son-in-law Bob Hampton (Laura), Myron (Maureen), all of the grandchildren, great grandchildren, a great-great grandson, and her many relatives and friends throughout Canada and the United States. There are not enough words for us to sum up Mom's life. Grandpa Hoffman recalled that Mom was born "on a bright sunny day with snow melting and water dripping from the roof, and water running in the ditches". Little did the world know, the sunshine that Mom would bring to people in her life for more than 100 years. Mom was a very independent woman, working on the Hoffman family farm in Saskatchewan milking cows, helping in the plowing and harrowing and during harvest helping to thresh grain. Her reward for this hard work from Grandpa Hoffman was the promise to support his daughter in furthering her education. So off she went to high school and eventually Normal School in Saskatoon and graduated as a teacher in 1932. Mom was very active in her teen years, playing baseball, tennis and yes, hockey! She started her teaching career in 1932 and many of her students from those early years remembered her by way of birthday and Christmas cards throughout her life. Frances married Tony Hutmacher in 1937 and the family in Bruno eventually grew to eight with the addition of the six kids. In 1954, Dad was transferred to Winnipeg, where Mom eventually resumed teaching in Charleswood until retiring from Dieppe School in 1978. In their retirement years Mom and Dad enjoyed travelling the country, whether it was a trip to visit family or friends. Mom continued to be active throughout her years, a member of the CWL, bowling, playing cards, bridge, scrabble or attending Rainbow Stage, Folklorama or the many other cultural events in Winnipeg. She would spend time watching TV, knitting or crocheting and who in the family doesn't have a piece of artwork she created. Our Mother had a great influence on our family, but if we were to sum it up in three words it would be "she inspired us". Mom always had time for family and friends, a smile, an encouraging word. It was very important for her to treat people with kindness, respect and her most important rule, "treat others how you want to be treated". Mom believed she owed her longevity to keeping her mind active and having a positive attitude on how she approached each day. Mom didn't live to be over a 103 by accident, it was her keen determination to live each day to the fullest that kept her going. The family would like to thank the many people and care givers over the last number of years who were there for our Mom, as she was for countless friends throughout her life. Mom's final resting place will be in Bruno, Saskatchewan, next to our Dad and by our beloved sister Maureen Hampton.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 29, 2017