Tribute

Mary Loeppky (nee Kornelsen), aged 82, breathed her last breath on the evening of May 30, 2025, in Oliver, British Columbia enveloped in the love, songs, laughter and tears of family and friends, It was a beautiful send off for a beautiful woman. She had a deep faith in Jesus, and she is now with Him, and free from her failing mind and body.

Mary was born on the family farm in Rosenort, Manitoba, on August 29, 1942, the second oldest child, and oldest daughter, of the 11 kids born to Margaret and Cornelius Kornelsen. She got great training for motherhood by helping to care for her siblings from a young age. Her first language was Low German, and she only learned English after starting school. Mary was incredibly bright, a natural learner, avid reader and lifelong student. She was also a talented seamstress, cook and baker, and learned from her mother how to open her heart and home to anyone in need.

Mary met her husband, Richard Loeppky, when she went to MCI (Mennonite Collegiate Institute) in Gretna, Manitoba for high school. We are told that their principal had them read love scenes aloud from Shakespeare together in English class, as he thought they would make a good match. Richard and Mary were married on August 15, 1964. Mary went to teacher’s college and enjoyed a year of teaching before starting to have children in 1966. Mary had always wanted to be a mother – in fact she initially said she wanted 7 kids! Lynette, James, Cheryl and Coralee were her absolute pride and joy and she mothered with great love and devotion. It is the amazing love she showed us all that makes us feel her absence so deeply.

The Loeppky family lived in Kleefeld, MB, Steinbach, MB, Germany, Norway House, MB, Carman, MB, Calgary, AB, and lastly, Oliver, BC, for various job changes and life transitions. Mary was truly amazing at extending herself to people through friendship and hospitality – and made some incredible friends through these years in various places.

At the age of 60, Mary fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her Master’s degree in counselling. It was also around this time, she decided to do a trek to the Himalayas, and almost made it to the base camp of Everest. But the high altitude got to her and she had to be transported down the mountain by helicopter.

The arrival of her grandkids made Mary come alive and she loved her grandkids (in birth order): Sage, Aiden, Jonah, Rayne, Aysia, Ben, Peyton and Jordyn, with all of her heart. She would pour hours into reading to them, playing with them and giving them her full attention in whatever they did together.  There was always lots of laughter involved.

Our mom started having memory problems a number of years ago. A bad fall and hip replacement surgery accelerated her decline in mind and body, and for the past 2 years she was a resident at McKinney Place in Oliver. Even though dementia changed her, she was still so sweet, kind and loving through this journey; the essence of Mary stayed the same. She used to say “you become more of who you truly are, as you age” and this was especially true of our mom. She was loved by the staff at McKinney and always so gracious with the people who were caring for her.

Mary is survived by her husband Richard, their four children: Lynette, James (Martha; Sage, Rayne and Aysia), Cheryl (Kevin; Peyton and Jordyn) Coralee (Jeremy; Aiden & Rebekah, Jonah & Stephanie, Ben & Anabel). She is also survived by her siblings, Leo (Marilyn), Tina (Karl), Menno (Hildy), Anne (Alvin), Bert (Elma), Lydia (Carl), Norma (Howard), Liz, Irma, Tilly (Ken) and in-laws: Lydia, Eileen, Laverna (Vic), Aldon (Betty), Donald (Roseanne) and almost countless much-loved nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

Memorial service will take place Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 1 pm Pacific Time at Oliver Alliance Church, with refreshments to follow. All are welcome. The service will also be live streamed. Anyone who wants to watch the live stream can click this link at 1pm PST on June 14th. A recording of the service will be made available on the Nunes-Pottinger website.

Donations are gratefully accepted for YWAM: etransfer to: ywamgginfo@gmail.com or the Oliver Alliance Church: etransfer to olivercma@telus.net

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path.” Proverbs 3: 5-6