Lee Mae Hemmerle

Lee Mae Hemmerle, 87, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Saturday August 8th, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late William Hemmerle. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Alfred and Helen (Maguire) Gentsch. Lee married William while they were both attending the University of Colorado in 1947. In 1948 Lee graduated from the University of Colorado with a dual major in Economics and Political Science. After graduation, Lee and her husband William started a family which became her life’s work. As a wife, Lee was ever supportive of her husband’s professional pursuits. She provided emotional support for William’s career changes – from college student, to Naval Officer, to private industry professional to college professor. She and William moved their family several times before settling in South County in 1965. A devoted wife and mother, Lee provided a warm, stable and loving home to her family, giving them encouragement when needed and an ever-present moral compass for guiding them through life. She was a remarkably self-reliant woman who was never reluctant to take on a difficult task – whether it was designing and creating her home and garden or teaching her children and grandchildren to think critically and independently. Lee valued resourcefulness and individualism, and herself exemplified these traits. She is survived by four daughters; Karen Hodge of Newburyport, MA, Kathy Moriarty of Old Town, ME, Kim Jones of Reston, VA, and Kerylynn Krahforst of Scituate, MA; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was the mother of the late William Kirk Hemmerle. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Romuald Church, Matunuck.