Mary Ann Kramis Ambrose Wake, 94

Mary Ann Kramis Ambrose Wake, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, went home to be with Jesus at the young age of 94 on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, at her residence in Kalispell. Mary was born on June 21, 1916, in Hamilton, the fifth child of Swiss homesteaders Martina Iten and Joseph Kramis. Mary's father died when she was very young and then her mother married Emil LaChambre, who was a loving husband and a precious father to her children. Mary grew up in Hamilton, then attended Kinman Business College in Spokane, after graduating from Hamilton High School. She was a secretary to the principal of Hamilton High School for a year and later worked with Montana Power as a secretary and helped with cooking demonstrations using rationed foods. Mary met Robert Ambrose of Missoula on a hiking outing at Lake Como and married him in 1944. They raised their five children in Missoula through 1974. Mary worked as secretary at Emma Dickenson Elementary School for eight years and Porter Elementary School for one year. She married Bud Wake in 1986 and they enjoyed traveling, golf, cross-country skiing and dancing together for five years before he died in 1991. Shortly after, Mary moved to Kalispell to be near her children and grandchildren living in the Flathead Valley. Her greatest joy was to be out in God's creation, whether it was gardening, walking, hiking, biking or cross-country skiing. Mary loved serving others and volunteered for Meals on Wheels, as a companion to visually-impaired seniors and as a foster grandmother to 20 second-graders at Elrod Elementary School. She lived at Ashley Court Senior Housing during this season of her life. In 2005 Mary moved into WEL-Life of Kalispell, a Senior Assisted Living Community, where she encouraged others to enjoy the journey instead of focusing on circumstances of life that can't change. She continued using her bod , walking the hallway loop, hiking the hills nearby with her walker and exercise class, staying true to her philosophy of use it, or lose it. Music, dance and the arts in all forms delighted her, and she would jump at the chance to attend performances anywhere, anytime to enjoy the gifts God has displayed in others. Otherwise, Mary could be found reading, tending the flowers inside and out, updating the WEL-Life photo albums, sightseeing or brainstorming new programs or events that would bring joy into other WEL-Life residents' lives. Mary had a caring heart for the elderly and their ability to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. Mary was preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Ambrose and Bud Wake; parents, Martina and Emil LaChambre; sister, Martina Dailey of Seattle; brothers, Nick Kramis of Hamilton and Charles Kramis of Houston. She leaves her sister, Ann Young of Spokane; and brother, Cap Kramis of Boise, Idaho; her children, Marie Stuart of Portland, Trina Ambrose of Kalispell, Lynda Chud of Wasilla, Alaska, Carl Ambrose and wife, Rebecca Johns of Bigfork, and Craig and Connie Ambrose of Somers. Grandchildren include Kristy Friday, Mark Denning, Robert Denning, David Ambrose, Bryan Chud, Aaron Chud, Nathan Chud, Seth Ambrose, Caleb Ambrose, and Cohen Ambrose. Great-grandchildren include Becca and Robert Denning, Aaron and Sean Friday, Ashton and Ava Chud, and Brennan, Erica and Blake Denning. Memorial services for Mary are pending. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Meals on Wheels, in care of J.R. Isles, or RSVP, in care of Sara Cowger, both at 160 Kelly Rd., Ste. A, Kalispell, MT 59901, or to the Summit Foundation, 205 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell, MT 59901. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Mary's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Mary's guest book, offer condolences and share memories.