Mary Joe Hemstreet

Mary is survived by six of her seven children, Gary Hemstreet (Brenda), Kevin Hemstreet (Cindy), Kerry Eriksen (Mike), Claudia McDonough (Greg), Paul Hemstreet, and Howard Hemstreet (Laureen), 22 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her husband Herbert Hemstreet, their oldest son Fred Hemstreet, and her siblings Rita Schnell, Eddie McAlea, and Geraldine Mehring.

Mary was born in 1919 in Anaconda, MT to Irish immigrants, Thomas and Margaret "Maggie" McAlea. When Mary was six months old, her parents moved the family back to their native Castlewellan, County Down, Northern Ireland. Six years later, Mary and her family returned to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, NY. There, she met the love of her life Herb Hemstreet, who she married on December 20, 1942. At the time, Herb was an Army sergeant-instructor assigned to Fort Ord near Monterey, CA. Mary went west to be with Herb; and their first abode was "The Peewee," a small, romantic cottage in nearby Carmel, CA. To earn extra money, she and Herb moon-lighted at a sardine factory on Monterey's famous "Cannery Row."

When Herb was deployed to Alaska for the remainder of World War II, Mary returned to Brooklyn, where she lived with her parents. After the war, Herb and Mary started their own "Baby Boom" (seven children).

In 1958, Herb, Mary, and their family were transferred to Florida by his employer. The family settled in Lake Worth, where they became active parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

In 1969, the Hemstreets founded the successful Folding Shutter Corporation, which for many years manufactured and installed storm shutters throughout this area.

Mary and Herb helped found the Shamrock Club on South H Street in Lake Worth, which became a meeting place for like-minded, fun-loving fellow expats from New York and elsewhere who loved laughing and singing together - and the occasional cocktail.

Our fondest memories of Mary include her sheer joy at spending time with her loving husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and close friends during many get-togethers and cook-outs at Mary and Herb's house. Mary was always so kind and gentle with everyone. She had a special knack for making everyone feel as if he or she were the most important person in the world.

What Mary wanted most of all in her wonderful life was to be a worthy servant of God, a loving wife to Herb, and a great mother to Fred, Gary, Kevin, Kerry, Claudia, Paul, and Howard. In all this she truly succeeded. She left this life with grace, courage, a great sense of humor, and love for all. She was everything a wife, mother, and friend could be, and will be missed until we are all together again.

Special thanks to Mary's wonderful caretakers for many years, Micline Pierre and Bedette Limage.

The family plans to hold a celebration of Mary's life in the future.

Published in The Palm Beach Post from Jan. 2 to Jan. 3, 2021