Mary Therese Balazs

Mary was born at her family home in Stockholm, Saskatchewan on July 3rd 1931 to Nickolas and Mary Herperger. She had nine brothers; six of whom she grew up with.  Mary enjoyed playing ball with her brothers. One story she told us was that she was the first girl to wear pants. She played out field and boy could she hit the ball straight and far. She worked hard on the farm, cleaning and cooking alongside her mom, canning, making butter and ice cream, which she made often. From a very early age, she was making her ever so famous feather light bread. 

Mom cherished the friendships of Auntie Dorothy, Ruthie and Francis.  She was so happy when her brother Rudy met Auntie Gloria and later on Gloria became the sister she never had. In her mid to late teens, she travelled to Ontario and worked as a housekeeper until she returned to Stockholm.  The highlight of the week were the dances at the neighboring community halls and Round Lake.  It was there that dad sweep her off her feet.  They both loved to dance and the Blue Skirt Waltz became their favorite waltz. On October 23, 1951, our mother at the age of 20 married Geza Balazs. Shortly afterwards mom and dad moved to British Columbia where Myrena and Debbie were born. After Debbie was born they moved back to the Balazs homestead located in Bangor Saskatchewan were mom and dad farmed. In the years that followed Carla, Brenda and Lisa were born. Mom and dad so loved and cherished their daughters and even in moms last breaths mom told all of us how very proud she was of all of her girls. Living on the farm, life was not easy. Mom and dad worked very hard but there was always lots love and time spent visiting and playing cards with family, friends and neighbors.   

In 1971 mom and dad moved to Regina where mom worked in various positions from dishwasher and working in hospital laundry, but her favorite job was fostering newborn babies.  For their retirement years, mom and dad moved to Pilot Butte where in the summer mom loved watering her flowers in the flowerbeds that dad built. In winter, there was much joy shared in the beautiful Christmas light display that many people would travel to see. Mom could be found dressed as Mrs. Claus handing out candy canes and dad dressed as St. Nick ringing his bells and saying Merry Christmas to all. 

Mom was an amazing cook and no one left her home hungry. She was famous for the following foods, paprika chicken, bread, chicken soup, torta, palacsinta, cabbage rolls, strudel to name a few. There was always a late lunch served after many hands of canasta. Mom also enjoyed learning to knit, crochet, her sequence craft and working on word searches.   

After dad passed in 2013 mom resided with Debbie and Allan until March of this year when she moved to Marion Chateau. There she made many new friends and attended social functions.  She enjoyed the old time country entertainment at the home and many visits at the bistro over a cup of coffee.  

Mom was a devote catholic who prayed the rosary daily and attended mass on Sundays. Words cannot express the depth of her love for her family. In her last days she was able to say good-bye to her brother Raymond whom she loved dearly and his family who came to her bedside. On December 12th at 5:45 p.m. she took her last breath peacefully in the presence of her loving family. 

  In loving memory of our mother Mary