Tribute

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mom, Oma, Aunt, Sister and friend to many. Mary was born February 11, 1932 in Santa Catarina, Brazil to parents Henry and Elizabeth Kasper.  She was the 3^rd of 4 children with her older siblings Annie and Peter and younger sister Louisa.

Mary is survived by her loving family, son John, daughter Anne-Marie(Norbert), daughter Elizabeth(Paul), and Oma to 7 grandchildren Caitlynd, Emilia(Andrew), Austin, Julianna, Aiden, and Aaron.

As a child and teenager, she worked on the family farm and loved horseback riding and climbing trees.  In 1948 she immigrated to Canada with her family and first settled in Matsqui.  She drove across Canada with her friend to work in a Bethesda care home in Ontario.  Her friend decided to stay on longer and so Mary would tell the story of how she drove home by herself in the middle of winter in her VW Beetle.  She attended Winkler Bible College for 2 years and soon after moved to Vancouver where she worked for Canada Packers.  She attended Culloden MB Church where she taught Sunday School.  On weekends she would drive back to Abbotsford to help her parents.

Later while visiting in Brazil she met John Sperling and they were engaged 2 weeks later.  John soon followed her to Canada and a few months later they were married August 16, 1969.  David Wiens officiated their wedding in English even though John did not understand English yet.  They were soon blessed with 3 children John, Anne-Marie and Elizabeth.

In 1977 they moved to Clearbrook and attended King Road Church.  Here is where her children loved to pick raspberries with her every summer.  Their house was always open to visitors, ready with coffee and platz.  They were blessed with 6 grandchildren and baby-sat them joyfully at the beginning until John became sick and was eventually admitted to Menno Hospital and later moved to Cottage Worthington.  Her dedication and love was evident to all as she spent every day at his side for 4 years helping him and other residents until he passed in January 2008.

After his passing, her time continued to be dedicated to her family.  She took care of her older sister Annie who was in a care home in Vancouver.  She was the favorite aunt to her nieces and nephews that made it a point to visit her any time they came through town.  Her children and grandchildren will never forget the family trips to Mexico.  Her crepes were always a favorite along with her zwieback and other baking.

After a fall in 2015 that broke her shoulder, she was admitted to Val Haven Care Home.  The amazing staff loved her sense of humor and would sit and visit with her.  Other residents gravitated to her and she made new friends easily.  After surviving Covid last year her health never fully recovered.  She went home to be with her Lord and Saviour September 29^th, 2021.