May Grober passed away at the Chilliwack Hospital on Wednesday April 26, 2006. She was born Sept. 6, 1909 in (Coleman) Lethbridge, Alberta to Thomas and Katherine (Hart) Steele. May was 96 years young.
Maizie met Max Albin Grober, a new immigrant from Germany in February 1930. They had known each other 3 days and were married. Her first baby (Dick) was born in Vancouver, BC. The family lived in many places around BC and Canada, but each of her 11 children was born under the excellent care of Dr. Caple at Vancouver General Hospital. After each birth Dr. Caple instructed “No more Mrs. Grober”.
“Maizie”, as she was known to Dad, was the ultimate stay at home mother and dairy farmers wife. Sadly at age 52, her life drastically changed when she lost her beloved Max to a heart attack. She remained a widow, often claiming no one could compare with Dad.
May is preceded in death by infant son, Thomas; husband, Max; sons Richard and Eugene and daughters Erna (Stan) Kennedy, Kathleen (Gary) Fletcher and April Horn.
Surviving family members are daughters, Gloria (Doug) Downey, Roselinda Fulford and Marcia (Allen) Ruckle; daughters in law, Nancy Grober and Myrtle Grober Jilg; sons, Max Jr. (Karen) and George; son in law John Horn.
Her loving grandchildren numbering 27 are: Dick’s children; Kurt (Lynne) Grober and Valerie (Robert) Sawka; Erna’s children; Diana (Rick) Hertslet, Jenny (Wayne) Woelbern, Herbie (Cindy) Kennedy and Heather (Mark) Green; Gloria’s children; David (Erin) Downey, Sharron (Kevin) Makela and Cynthia Downey Smith; Kathleen’s child, Gregory (Sarah) Fletcher; Eugene’s children; Rhonda Grober, Misty (Kevin) Wriglesworth, Shawndelle (Daryl) Wolfe and Mason (Myra) Grober; Roselinda’s children; Belinda Grober, Jonathan (Jessica) Fulford and Deborah Fulford; Max Jr’s children; Linda Rae (Paul) Hutchinson, Curtis Grober, Tracey (Darrell) Wardrope, Denise Lapierre and Angela Grober; Marcia’s children, Rebecca (John) Diehl, Holly (Scott) Watkinson, Orion (Ruth) Ruckle, Spring Ruckle and Benjamin Ruckle. Dad and “Maizie” leave a legacy of 51 great grandchildren. Many were the children who knew our mother, not just as Mrs Grober but as Mom. Lorraine Beger and Jacqueline Seffelaar, dear friends of the family who were known to Mom as her daughters.
Graveside service will be held on Friday, May 5, 2006 at 3:30 pm at Maple Ridge Cemetery, Maple Ridge, BC.
Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 1:30 pm at Sardis Community Church, Sardis, BC.
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the many caregivers over the years who attended our dear mother..