KADING – Gladys Alene Augusta Kading passed away peacefully on June 4, 2020. Alene was born on March 17, 1931 to Lillie and Augustus McLean of Sunnynook. She was the youngest of the five daughters; Freda, Marguerite, Una Dorothy, Elsie and Alene. She received her grade twelve education by attending the one room schools at Sunnynook. After grade twelve she stayed to help out on the farm, after the death of her Mother in the spring of 1950, that fall her Dad sold the farm to a neighbor.They joined Una and Elsie in Calgary. Alene attended the Garbutt Business College and later worked at the East End Branch of the Bank of Nova Scotia and later for the Jr. Chamber of Commerce. On April 20, 1954 she married her best friend Verlin Kading of Cessford. Together they raised three children and enjoyed over 60 years on the farm. Alene enjoyed working both inside and outside. She was always ready to volunteer to help any organization if it was needed. She was a member of the Berry Creek Community Club, Pollockville Ladies Curling Club, Home and School, Women of Unifarm, Berry Creek Historical Society and the Ella Jane WI for over 60 years. She was a Charter member of the Ella Jane WI and received her golden book award in 2013. Other community activities included fundraising for a new hall, community club trail rides, working at the Sandhill’s Roping Club, cooking for dinner theatres, graduations and weddings, helping at the Cessford and Sunnynook home comings, community bingos, dances and helping make pies. Some of her interests and extra activities included reading, further education courses, playing softball, riding horses, leather working, and painting. Above all she enjoyed having her family settle close to the home place, family was extremely important to her. When her children were younger, Verlin and Alene would take them skating, hockey and 4-H and later she would attend any and all activities that her grandchildren and great grandchildren were involved in, whether it was hockey, school sports, school plays, rodeos, dance, music recitals, rodeo queen activities, 4-H or tobogganing in the winter. She loved the baby calves in the spring and her horses, dogs and cats. She was predeceased by her loving husband Verlin in June of 2018; her parents Lille and Augustus; mother-in-law, Laura Kading; sisters Freda, Marguerite, Elsie and Una. three nephews and a niece; John Seefeldt, Allan Melnechuck, Ted Bullock and Michelle Melnechuck, brothers in-laws; Art Evans, Mike Melnechuck and Ken McKay. She is survived by her children: Earl, Lila (Larry) Bird, Lowell (Vione), grandchildren; Krista Kading, Erika (Robin) Lacelle, Monique (Jason) Conners, Logan Bird, Charmayne (Treveor) Toole, Stacey (Logan) Girletz, great grandchildren: Addison, Lydia, Gauge Lacelle, Ember, Lillie and Clara Conners, Lexi Bird, Lena Girletz, brother in-law Fred Seefeldt, numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. A private family celebration and interment at Cravath Corners will follow at a later date. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Alene may be made to Hanna Hospital Ladies Auxiliary or Hanna Long Term Care Recreation Department by mail to 904 Centre Street North, Hanna, Alberta T0J 1P0, Halo by mail to, #12 – 49 Viscount Ave SW, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 5G4, Stars Air Ambulance at www.stars.ca or the CNIB (Medicine Hat) at www.cnib.ca. Further information or to leave a message of sympathy, please visit www.thomsfuneralhome.com or call (403) 501-1010.
