Marie Spraggs

In memory of Marie who was born to Abram and Sarah Derksen on April 20, 1929 in Didsbury. In her younger years, she moved with the family to several locations in the Didsbury and Carstairs area. Marie received her spiritual nurture as a young person at the Bergthal Mennonite Church. It was here where she was baptized and fellowshipped with her church friends and family. As a grown up, Marie worked in different homes helping with harvesting, cooking and looking after young children. Marie worked in Calgary at the Carolina restaurant as a cook for a number of years. In 1952 she married Pat Spraggs, who was a father of three beautiful daughters. Pat and Marie farmed east of Didsbury in the Burnside district.  They retired from farming and moved to Calgary where Pat took a position as a builder with Engineered Homes, his one and only position until he retired. After moving to Calgary, Marie worked at Safeway for a while. Later, Pat and Marie opened their home to care for emergency foster children. During those years, Marie was mother to 29 foster children. Barbara is one of those children. Sometime after Pat’s death, Marie experienced some health issues and moved to the Chinook Winds Lodge in Carstairs. In December of 2013, Marie suffered a heart attack and had been hospitalized. Marie peacefully and quietly breathed her last earthly breath there on March 6, 2014. Marie was predeceased by her husband, Pat Spraggs; her parents, Abram and Sarah Derksen; her sisters, Eva Derksen, Olga Neufeld, Hilda Derksen and Gertie Penner; her brothers, Andrew Derksen and baby, Julius Derksen. Marie is lovingly remembered by her step-daughters, Shirley (Don) Thompson & family, Mary Spraggs & family and Patsy (Ron) Martin & family; siblings, Aaron (Lydia) Derksen & family, Sarah (Harvey Neufeld) & family, Ordina Erickson & family and David (Sarah) Derksen & family.