TRIBUTES have flowed for the late Mary Kiehne of Port Macquarie, who passed away in April after a life of service to others.
Mary was born in Badsey, Worcester in England on 23 November 1937 to Charles and Betty Hurman.
She was the eldest of seven siblings.
Mary trained as a nurse and came to Australia in 1963 for a planned two years, working in the gynaecology and psychiatric wards at the Royal Canberra Hospital before becoming matron of the geriatric ward.
At a dance at the hospital she met handsome chef and PMG linesman Cliff Kiehne, and her plans for a two year trip were quickly forgotten.
They soon fell in love and travelled to England for a year in 1965.
They were married at St James church in Badsey in 1966, before returning to Canberra to purchase their first home in Derwent Street, Lyons.
Mary and Cliff had two children – Stephen born in 1967 and Debra in 1970.
Cliff and Mary moved to Port Macquarie in 1979 when Cliff was transferred with his work.
Double tragedy then struck the Kiehnes.
At the age of 18 Stephen suffered a cerebral haemorrhage while surfing at Town Beach and drowned.
Debbie was later diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away in England at the age of 36.
On Easter Saturday 2007 the family stood at 4pm and sprinkled half of Debbie’s ashes into the Hastings River.
At the same time in the UK, Debbie’s remaining ashes were placed by a friend into the English Channel at Dorset.
Debbie had placed Stephen’s ashes in the Hastings River at the same spot off the breakwall some 21 years earlier.
With the loss of her children Mary began to care for kids with disabilities and offered great comfort and support to many families in Port Macquarie.
She became a surrogate ‘Nan’ to her grand nieces and many other families.
Her niece Helen Langdon and husband David, along with their children Ally, Kristen and Heath, stepped up to support Mary and Cliff.
Cliff died in 2015 and Helen and David’s support for Mary increased.
Mary was a great support and comfort to many, especially her neighbour Betty Creak.
In April after a wonderful day out exploring the King Creek area and the river with the Langdons, Mary returned home and had a fall.
She was admitted to hospital and never came home.
Betty was a woman of faith, attending Grace Church in Port Macquarie.
Pastor Debbie-Ann Bax described her as a “beautiful, loving, faithful child of God”.
Mary’s niece Helen Langdon and husband David said, “Although it’s hard to say goodbye, the family reunion happening up high far outweighs the pain of our loss.”
Local pastor Kerry Medway knew Mary for almost 40 years.
“Through all her tragedies and painful losses, Mary’s faith has never wavered.”
Among those offering tearful tributes at the funeral was TV host Ally Langdon, Mary’s great niece.
VALE Mary Kiehne, 1937 to 2025.
