Marie Therese Hartmangruber

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Mrs. Marie Therese Hartmangruber, 95, died Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – North Mississippi in Oxford. Visitation will be held Monday, May 20, 2024, from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Waller Funeral Home, with a Rosary following at 6:00 P.M. in the adjoining chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Shoffner officiating. Inurnment will follow the service in St. John’s Columbarium.

Marie was born on December 13, 1928, in Briare, France. Years later during WWII, Marie’s home in Briare was commandeered as a Natzi headquarters by German officers, and her family was forced to flee to the south of France before returning to find many of their family possessions destroyed or stolen. Despite the circumstances, Marie managed to flourish as a young woman, finishing her studies in France, before moving to England to work while learning English. Marie returned to France to accept a position with NATO in Orléans, unaware at the time that she would soon meet her future husband. Marie and Louis fell quickly in love, marrying in France before moving to his home in America. When Louis graduated from Louisiana State University, they moved to West Texas, where he continued his career in Petroleum Engineering. They spent many years in Texas and California, before moving back to Midland, Texas, and then finally settling into retirement in Oxford, Mississippi.

The obstacles of Marie’s early years bore within her a resilience and tenacity that stayed with her throughout her life. She had a keen ability to find the good and beautiful in almost any person or circumstance. During her childhood, she learned to sew by watching and working with a local seamstress, a talent she treasured long after it was a necessity. In her later years, Marie lovingly crafted her grandchildren’s christening gowns, uniquely aware of what a gift it was to do so. No matter where Marie and her family lived, she always had a flower garden that she tended with tender, loving care. It brought her great satisfaction and pride to know that she could grow flowers in West Texas, California and Mississippi, and upon closing her eyes and taking in the beautiful floral scents, be transported back to the fields in France that she once called home. A compassionate and faithful person, Marie was a devout Catholic. She exhibited a charitable and philanthropic spirit, always ready to serve in whatever capacity she could. From church duties, to helping friends and strangers alike, Marie was always first in line to help. She was led by her love of Christ, and instilled the same caring, giving spirits in her children. Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Alexander and Suzanne Precetti; her husband, Louis R. Hartmangruber; her son, Mark Hartmangruber; and her brother, Pierre Precetti.

Marie is survived by her daughters, Christy Knapp and her husband, Ron, of Oxford, MS, Mary Lee Misemer and her husband, Philip, of Sacramento, CA and Michele Hartmangruber of Montreal, Canada; two brothers, Jean Precetti (José) of Reims, France and Andre Precetti of Provence, France; seven grandchildren, Elise Breth (Jon) of Maitland, FL, Jennifer Knapp Hayes (Jeremy) of Elmhurst, IL, Christopher Knapp (Heather) of Oxford, MS, Amy Misemer of Sacramento, CA, Evan Luxenberg of Toronto, Canada, Sarah Luxenberg of Montreal, Canada, Deanna Luxenberg of Montreal, Canada, as well as seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews in France.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Marie’s memory may be made to The Pantry, 713 Molly Barr Road, Oxford, Mississippi 38655 or to the Pregnancy Center of Oxford, 1943 North Lamar Boulevard, Oxford, Mississippi 38655.