Theresa Marie (Stewart) Hemmi, 96, of Hallettsville, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 25, 2014.

She was born March 20, 1918, the eldest of 8 to Winona Sweeney & Alexander Rudolph Stewart in San Antonio, Texas while her dad was serving in WWI.

She was a 12th generation Mayflower descendant in the Francis Cooke line.   Her maternal Sweeney grandparents married and taught on the Pine Ridge and other Dakota Sioux reservations. She inherited her pioneer spirit and determination that sustained her through many of life's challenges. She lived her early life on a farm in Aransas Pass where her dad "sharecropped".

She graduated from Rockport High School in Rockport, TX where she played basketball and softball. She worked at Bracht's grocery store and the Aransas County courthouse.

She married the dapper Urban F. Hemmi on Sept. 8, 1940 in Sacred Heart church, Rockport to which union 7 children were born, the first 5 at home in Rockport, TX. The last 2 in Hallettsville where the family moved in May 1951 so the Hemmi kids could attend Sacred Heart Catholic School. In 71 years of wedded bliss Theresa and Urban enjoyed: 15 cross-country USA trips, trips to Mexico, Canada, and 3 trips to Europe that included a blessing of the crowd by Pope John Paul (1979).

Given her natural friendly demeanor, she attended and hosted scores of Stewart/Sweeney/Hemmi reunions and family events. She also hosted innumerable domino, Shanghai, Canasta and family games in the Hemmi Haus of Hospitality which was always open for fun and relaxation. If she lost she would say: "I had fun, but I didn't enjoy it (losing that is).

At age 80, she got a computer and learned how to e-mail so that she could keep in touch with friends and relatives around the world.

Theresa Marie was a devout Catholic who lived a life of Christian service with its call to holiness, prayed her daily rosary and attended Mass till her earthly end. She was a lifelong Christian Mother, Eucharistic minister, officer of the original Sacred Heart Laity Council; Family Ministry, head of the Sacred Heart Right to Life committee and was a founding member of the Thrift/Manna store now known as LAMB. She and Urban were charter members of the Northwest SERRA club and Engagement Encounter sponsors. In 1988 she was honored as the Catholic Life Fraternalist of the year and in 1996 was given the Sons of Herman Humanitarian Award for outstanding community service. After attending a women's ACTS retreat in San Antonio in 1997, she was so impressed that she helped introduce the program to Sacred Heart parish and helped staff the first local retreats.

Theresa is survived by her 7 children and 6 spouses: Theresa and Paul Voelkel, John and Barbara Hemmi, Agnes-Terri Palmer, Joe and Beth Hemmi, Phillip and Rosemary Hemmi, Michael and Donna Hemmi, James and Linda Hemmi, sisters Marge Rehm and Sister Rose Stewart, and brothers Alex and J.D. Stewart.

She has 18 living grandchildren with their 8 spouses: Kevin and Cathy Voelkel, Cheryl and Andrew Oldweiler, Stephanie and Nick Nichols, Joanne and Ron Kinney, Kyle and Grace Hemmi, Kelly Voelkel, Adam and Veronica Hemmi, Bradley and Alessa Hemmi, Gretchen and Greg Konopczynski, Jeffrey, Kristen, Christian, Jacob, Jamie Marie, Zachary, Anna, James A. and Abby Hemmi.

Her 12 great-grandchildren are: Justin, Stephen, Patrick and Jacob Voelkel, Taylor Hemmi, Aaron, Aiden, and Alec Nichols, Faith and Emma Kinney, Kaelan and Micah Hemmi.

In addition to her parents and spouse Urban, she was preceded in death by her sisters Gertrude Stewart and Maryann Shaw, brother Johnny Stewart, son in law Raymond Palmer and granddaughter Ashley Hemmi.

The family is grateful for the professional care given to her by the staff and caregivers of Advanced Home Health, Hallettsville Rehab and Nursing and Hospice of South Texas.

Funeral Mass Service: 11 am Monday, July 28, 2014, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hallettsville. Visitation: 4 pm, Sunday, at Kubena Funeral Home with Rosary starting at 6 pm. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Pallbearers: Her grandsons, Kevin and Kelly Voelkel, Nick Nichols, Jacob Hemmi, James A. Hemmi, and Bradley Hemmi. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Memorials: Sacred Heart Catholic School operating fund or TEEN ACTS Scholarships, PO Drawer H, Hallettsville, TX 77964 or to Hospice of South Texas, 306 N. Texana, Hallettsville, TX 77964 .