Cecelia Mary Hitchings

Cecelia will be lovingly remembered, cherished and sadly missed by her four children, eight grandchildren, and eighteen great-grandchildren: Mervin Hitchings and family: Amanda (Logan) Regier, (Aurelia, Kaia, Locke); Lorelei (Alex) Scappaticci, (Josephine, Clayton); Myrna (Tim) Lindenbach and family: Melissa (Joshua) Mellor, (Ellie, Ayden, Carter); Carly (Trace) Jahner, (Taedum, Beckham, Baya); Danielle (Efrem) Sium, (Bilen, Lomi, Mella); Melvin (Teofila) Hitchings and their daughter Jasmine: Michael Hitchings (Brenda) and family: Whitney (Bradley) Neu, (Johnathon, Ava, Ella) and Brandon (Kirsten) Hitchings (Austin- the last little diamond in her treasure box); Sister: Florence Saretsky; Sister-in-law: Donna Meyer; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Elmer (1970); Parents: George and Mary Meyer; Brothers: Albert, Frank, John, George; Sisters: Mary Meyer, Johanna Eggerman, Hilda Adamson; Brothers-in-law: Stan Adamson, Henry Eggerman, Charles Saretsky and nephew, Kerry Adamson. Dad’s family: Father in-law, Herbert Hitchings; Mother in-law: Elizabeth May Hitchings; Dad’s Siblings: Esther (Ralph) Beckett, Georgina (Dave) Fennell, Wilma (Allan) Defries, Maizie (Philip) Haichert, Phyllis (Victor) Schellenberg; Murray (Francis) Hitchings, Clifton (Violet) Hitchings.

Cecelia Mary Hitchings was born on January 11, 1930 to George and Mary (nee Greipl) Meyer on the family farm at Old Fulda. She attended Epson School from grades 1 – 8. After grade eight, mom stayed on the farm where she developed a great work ethic that she passed on to us kids. She was responsible for milking the cows, feeding the pigs and chickens, gather the eggs, gardening and help with the thrashing. She certainly was not afraid of hard work. At the age of seventeen she left home to be with her older sister Hilda in the big city of Saskatoon, where she worked at City Hospital. It was in Saskatoon where she met and married Elmer Vernon Hitchings. They both loved to dance so many a Saturday night they could be found dancing up at storm at the Barn Dance outside of Saskatoon. It was not long and they were blessed with four healthy children. Dad drove truck for W. C. Wells Construction for 15 years which often took him on the road. At the time, he was the first to drive the largest semi-truck in Saskatoon. Ever year he received a buckle for no accidents. A very proud achievement was when he received a safety award for 10 years with no accidents from the Saskatchewan Trucking Safety Council. Unfortunately, it was not long after receiving this award that he lost his life in an accident in 1970. The loss of her husband was a tremendous blow to mom. As young widow left to raise four children alone, she faced immense challenges, but she was a force of nature and carried on with impressive strength and determination.

As a single parent, mom was always running us to our activities and still managed to put healthy home-made meals on the table. Having to play the role of a mom and dad, she was indeed a strict mom, but fair and loving. She did not have much, but what she had, she worked hard for and was always willing to share with others. Times were tough and she needed to be careful how money was spent. Bread was baked, clothes were sewn and gardens were grown. Oh, how we miss those days! She was a wonderful role model and taught us kids to be kind, responsible and hard working. Although she was relatively shy and a private person, she was always willing to help others, especially those in need.

Mom was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who always enjoyed her family gatherings. She was dedicated to her family and her faith. She offered words of wisdom, whether we wanted them or not. She would talk to us about everything she felt was important in order to prepare us for the future. Throughout the years, she collected photos and prepared each of us kids and her grandchildren a keepsake photo book and a hope chest. She treated everyone equally. She was a prayer warrior and prayed daily for all of us and others. Thank you, mom!

She enjoyed reading and watching the news and was up on international affairs, politics and culture in historical and modern times, which sparked many conversations at family gatherings. Mom spent a lot of time in her senior years with her great-grandchildren which filled her life with joy. It is so nice to see the young and old interact together. After the loss of her closest sister Hilda in 2012, mom began to show signs of dementia which declined greatly during COVID19. Even though she was not as vibrant or talkative in her final year, we still had some wonderful moments together.

Mom, thank you for all you have done for us and others. May you continue to shine in our hearts and be our guiding light so we continue on with the four rules you taught us to live by: LIVE, the best life with very little; LOVE everyone as if they were gold; LEARN and keep learning; and LEAVE A LEGACY of kindness, patience, encouragement, support, forgiveness, trust and as always keep God in your hearts. Ninety-five years young, how fortunate we were to have you that long.

Our family chain has broken again, nothing will be the same, but as God calls us home one by one, our chain will link again.

Special thanks to Teo Hitchings at The Legends Personal Care Home in Warman for the exceptional and compassionate care she provided mom. Teo, you went over and above to give mom the best care and quality of life.

To honor mom’s wishes, there will be a private immediate family memorial. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society. Now, in honor of our beautiful mom, let us all go out and do something nice for someone today! We need more people like her in this world.