Mary Wilma Wick

Mary Wilma WICK - (nee Kezima). Matriarch, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Mary passed away peacefully at the South Health Campus Hospital in Calgary, Alberta on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the age of 103 years. ‘Grandma Mary’ (as she is known to most) will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. 

Born May 19, 1922, to Michael and Irene (Berzowski) Kezima. After the death of her father, Mary’s mother was re-married to Wasyl Solomon, who became a beloved stepfather. Together they raised a blended family of four children: George, John, Mary, and Victoria. 

Mary was born and raised on her family’s farm north of Verigin, Saskatchewan. She attended nearby Pretty View School, where she excelled in mathematics. Upon finishing school, Mary went to work at Winnipeg's Great Western Garment Co. during World War II. After the end of the war, she moved back to Saskatchewan to work as a secretary at the John Deere dealership in Lake Alma. It was in that little town, just north of the U.S. border, where she would meet the love of her life, Bennie Wick. 

After being married in 1948, Mary and Bennie lived between the town of Lake Alma and on a farm just north thereof. Their life on the farm was a mixture of hard work and lots of fun; they were blessed with four children, as well as many good neighbours and friends. After their children were grown, Mary went back to school to receive her Diploma in Administration from the University of Regina and subsequently worked for twenty years at the RM of Lake Alma as an Administrator before she retired at the age of 68. Grandpa Bennie passed away from medical complications in 1990; their love eternal, we imagine they are now reunited, sharing a pot of tea or a plate of perogies. 

Though she spent the majority of her adult life in Lake Alma; her later years were spent in Regina where she lived on the same cul-du-sac as her daughters and their families, as well as her sister, Victoria. After her retirement, Grandma Mary turned her time and attention towards enjoying her favourite things in life. Nurturing her grandkids, tending to her garden, creating cherished quilts for many family members, watching the Toronto Blue Jays, cooking with butter, filling the hearts and bellies all sorts of visitors with (including the mail carriers) with her wonderful cooking & baking, and beating anyone and everyone who played against her in cribbage. Mary’s kindness extended beyond her family; she was steadfast in her commitment to equality and fairness and treated everyone she encountered as such. Their home in Regina had an open door for a steady stream of visitors over the years; Mary enjoyed socializing and entertaining, and she loved a good handhold. 

Grandma Mary gave her whole heart to her family. She had a hand in raising each of her grandchildren, accepting us each as we came, celebrating us for who we were, and always believing in what we could be. We were privileged to belong to her, and the reason each of us knows the meaning of unconditional love is because of our cherished Grandma Mary.

In 2023, Mary relocated to Calgary with her youngest daughter Gail, to be closer to sons Rod and Ken, and their extended families. Gail loved her mom endlessly and has been her greatest caregiver, advocate, and companion. 

Mary is predeceased by her parents, Michael and Irene, stepfather Wasyl, brothers John and George, and her loving husband, Bennie Wick. She is survived by her sister, Victoria, and her children, Rodney (Patty), Ken, Jane, and Gail. She also leaves behind a veritable baseball team of adoring grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren: Terry (Shasta), Tanya (Michael), Brandi, Nathan (Maegan), Allison (Brad), Jillian (Kevin), Dillon (Mackenzie), Josh (Ivy), Erik (Taryn), and Lukas (Jess). Bennie (Tika), Grace, Spencer (Danika), Sean, Sonia, Fenix, Phillipa, Elizabeth, Blythe, Bruce, Violet, Aidan, Arlo, Sophie, Naomi, and great-great-grandson John, round out the bench full of young people who were lucky to be loved by Grandma Mary.

In honour of her wishes, no formal services will be held. Mary’s remains will be laid to rest privately, next to her beloved Bennie, at Lake Alma Cemetery. 

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