Obituary of Teri Kay Ludwig

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Teri Kay Ludwig (Samel) after a courageous battle with cancer. Teri began a family of her own on April 2, 1979 when she gave birth to her first daughter Tanya Marie, shortly to follow, second daughter Jamie Lee on March 25, 1981 and her son James Joseph on December 13, 1983. Teri was born on January 5 1961 in Uranium City, Saskatchewan and was the first child of William and Georgie Samel. As the mines closed the Samel family moved back to East Coulee and this is where Teri grew up and raised a little Hell. Growing up in East Coulee she was a tomboy, playing hockey, ball, football, jumping boxcars, climbing hills and jumping off the East Coulee Bridge in the summers. She attended school until grade 6 (skipping grade 5) and when the school closed the family was bused to Drumheller where she completed the remainder of her school years. Teri loved adventure and travel. In her years with West Coast Amusement she was able to see all the beauty of Canada. She made lifelong friends wherever she went. When Teri moved back to the valley, her sister Tracy was opening businesses. Teri was always hired first, then fired and rehired…sisterly love. She was an amazing bartender and bouncer but wedding consultant…not so much. In 1999 Teri met her husband Rick and made Stettler their home. She loved the beauty of the community. Their families blended well together. Teri and Rick were inseparable and she was his biggest supporter and their love for each other and family grew. She loved the pool league, especially playing against Rick’s team or just cheering him on. In 2012 she established the Stettler Bidding Wars and found her passion. Through this online community, she found an extended family; all were welcome into her heart and home. Teri is survived by her loving husband Rick Ludwig; her children: Tanya (Dennis), Jamie (Tom) and Joey; her step children Tasha and Cerone. She adored her grandchildren Michelle, Georgia, Johnny, Thomas, Logan and Cheyanne. She is also survived by her dad Willie Samel; her brothers Michael and Willie Samel and nephew Treighton; her sister Tracy Symowoniuk (Mike); many aunts, uncles, cousins as well as many dear friends. She was predeceased by her mother Georgie Samel in 1994, her brother Scott Samel in 1988 as well as grandparents and aunts and uncles. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 from 2:00 - 6:00 PM in the Stettler Legion Hall, Stettler, Alberta. Donations in memory of Teri gratefully accepted to the Alberta Cancer Foundation - Red Deer.