Obituaries

Fleury – It is with great love that we announce the passing of our Mom, Alice Mary Fleury, beloved wife of the late Clifford Fleury, of Brooks, at age 105 years. Alice Blais was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on April 17th, 1904. Alice moved to Alberta in 1917. She met Clifford Fleury at a dance, just before Christmas in 1925 and they were married at St. Mary’s Cathedral, in Calgary, on February 15, 1926. Their family was complete with six children, Theresa (Boswell), Robert, Elaine (Orlita), Laurier, Leonard, & Adrien. They lived in Gleichen, Alberta until 1944 when they moved to Brooks. Their house was faith filled. Alice took her turn cleaning the Catholic Church (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), often with Adrien along for help. She was always busy baking for the church bake sales, sewing clothes for her six kids and doing books for their business. All six kids would have new clothes to start school, all home made. While in Gleichen, Sundays would begin with Mass and all the family relatives, from three farms nearby, would gather after church for lunch, which Alice prepared on Saturday. Up to 15 people attended always ending with home made layer cake or jelly roll. She always loved music, sang in the church choir for years, played in a local 5 person orchestra and played for community dances. While taking piano lessons, she developed a passion for music of all kinds. She passed that passion on to her children. Ragtime Marches were her favorite, playing them well into her 90’s, and even played one on her 100th birthday. In her later years Alice & Cliff played duplicate bridge weekly with a club in Brooks. After Cliff’s passing, Alice continued to play, now in her late 80’s and early 90’s, with her granddaughter, Leanne, as her partner. She hated to miss bridge and rarely did, even if it meant climbing out the window of her room and down a ladder, at the Newbrook Lodge, when the doorknob broke. Alice’s husband, of nearly 65 years, Cliff, passed away in January, 1991. She chose to not remain in their home and moved into the Newbrook Lodge in March. She kept herself busy, hooking rugs for the next annual tea & sale, playing cards or sitting at the piano playing her favorite tune. She remained in the Lodge for the next sixteen years, enjoying every minute of it. When the time came that she required a higher level of care, at the age of almost 103, she moved into the Orchard Manor in February 2007. She was unsure whether she could get to know and love the staff there as she did at the Lodge. It took very little time to discover that she could and did love the staff at the Manor in the same way. She considered herself Blessed to have such wonderful care in both facilities. Alice was easy to love. Always positive, never complained, always saw the sunny side of everything. As her health failed, and she was confined to her bed, she dealt with it with such patience, as she waited to join her Lord. In her 105 years she taught so many, so much. We are eternally grateful. Alice was predeceased by her husband Cliff; her parents, Arthur & Anselmie Blais; her brothers Archie (Mary), Leo (Lois) & Eddy; her sisters Sister Mary Bathilda, Rita (Al), Clara (George); her brother-in-law Joe Voermans; her sons Laurier & Robert; her daughter-in-law Lorraine; son-in-law Eric Boswell and great grand daughter Robin. Alice is survived by her sister Loretta Voermans; her daughters Theresa Boswell and Elaine (Mike) Orlita; her sons Leonard (Gladys) and Adrien (Laura); daughters-in-law Mary Fleury and Mandi Fleury; 23 grand children; numerous great grand children and 5 great great grand children. Honorary Pallbearers will be Cliff Fleury, Elaine Orlita, Theresa Boswell, Robert Fleury, Laurier Fleury and those waiting for Alice. Active Pallbearers will be Leonard Fleury, Adrien Fleury, Allan Boswell, Rene Fleury, Len Orlita and Wade Fleury. Prayer Vigil will be held Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 7:30 p.m. with Deacon Bob Wilson officiating. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, August 17th, 2009 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. with Father Avinash Colaco officiating. Interment to follow at Brooks Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made “In Memory of Alice Fleury” to the Cliff & Alice Fleury Scholarship Fund at St. Joseph’s Collegiate, 408-1st Street West, Brooks, Alberta T1R 0V8 or Stars Air Ambulance, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7. Arrangements in care of SMITH FUNERAL HOME. Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free (866) 362-4652.

Alcock – Deborah Hazel (Alcock) Axworthy of Brooks, passed away with her husband Alvin Axworthy and daughter Elisse Flahr by her side, in Medicine Hat on Thursday, November 24th, 2016 at the age of 51 years. Deborah earned her wings, she fought hard and stayed strong through her battle with cancer. Heaven not only gained an Angel, but a wife, mother and daughter. Deborah loved to go camping and fishing with her husband, friends and family. She worked many years for Sanjel in Brooks and she enjoyed her work with many great co-workers. Deborah had 4 grandsons, that she enjoyed, and they kept her on her toes when they’d visit.

ALBERTSON – LOUISE ELLA 1921-2005
Surrounded by family, Mom/Grandma passed away gently at Cochrane Bethany Care Centre on Friday, Dec. 9, 2005. She was born in Kincaid, Saskatchewan. As a young lady she taught school in rural Sask., married Mel Albertson in Swift Current and subsequently moved to Alberta. She lived and taught school in Brooks, Alberta until her retirement in 1975. Louise enjoyed her retirement years in the City of Calgary near her daughters.

ALBERTS – Marion Alberts, passed away peacefully at the Brooks Long Term Care Facility on, Monday November 29th, 2004 at the age of 82 years. Marion was born in Riverbow, Alberta on January. 3rd, 1922. On April. 10th, 1944 she married James Alberts. Together they farmed in the One Tree district, moving to Brooks in the mid 1960’s. She spent four or five years working at the Brooks post office and many years as the secretary at the Medicine Hat Health Unit in Brooks. Marion was predeceased by her husband James, of 42 years, in the fall of 1986.

Aasen – Orville Morris Aasen, beloved husband of Christina Aasen of Brooks, passed away in Brooks on November 27th, 2006 at the age of 91 years. Born in Scotsguard, Saskatchewan on May 9th, 1915, a former resident of Admiral and Shaunovan, Saskatchewan, Orville moved to Brooks in 1966. He barbered at The Brooks Downtown Barber until his retirement in 1980. Orville was predeceased by his parents, 3 brothers and a sister. He is survived by his loving family, wife and constant companion Christina of Brooks, 4 children Margaret (Ron) Evans of Calgary, Gordon (Lois) of Coronach, Saskatchewan, Robert (Annetta) of Medicine Hat and David (Valerie) of Calgary; 10 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; sister Esther Petrescu and numerous nieces and nephews.

Adams – Mrs. Nancy Annie (Denys) Adams, beloved wife of Lawrence L. Adams, of Duchess, AB passed away in Brooks on March 17th, 2017 at the age of 86 years. Born at Chelan, Saskatchewan, she attended business college in Calgary before working there for several years. Upon her marriage in 1953, she joined her husband farming in the Duchess area and raising her family. She then took a job at the nursing home in Brooks, making many friends. She always had a beautiful yard and garden which she enjoyed sharing with others.

Aebly – Ernest J. Aebly of Jenner, passed away peacefully in the Brooks Health Centre on February 9th, 2003 at the age of 84 years. Born in Jenner on April 13th, 1918 Ernie received his education in Jenner and Grimshaw.

Ernie married Muriel Brydle on December 4th, 1943 in Red Cliff and resided in Jenner. He was a leader in the Jenner 4-H Club and took great pride in his Herford cattle that he raised for over the past 60 years.

Ernie loved his family, cribbage, playing pool, gardening and working with his cattle. He will be remembered for his generosity.

Aebly – Edwin (Ed) Charles Aebly of Jenner passed away in Brooks on Thursday, November 4th, 2004 at the age of 90 years. Born in Alderson, Alberta on August 30th, 1914 Ed received his schooling at the Riverbend School southeast of Jenner. He worked on the family farm until joining the army, fought overseas and returned home in 1945. Upon his return he married Ethel Davis and they raised 3 children. Ed worked a few odd jobs before returning to the farm where he resided until 1976.

AIRTH – PHYLLIS CHRISTINA Phyllis Christina Airth was born on November 22, 1942, at Bassano, Alberta. Phyllis passed away in the Maple Creek hospital, after a battle with cancer on Tuesday, April 13th at 61 years of age. She is survived by her mother Elsie Airth, her daughters Jean Tinney and Debra Snover and son Jack Tinney, Debra’s husband Bruce Snover, their sons Matthew, Daniel and Paul, her brothers Jock and David Airth, Jock’s wife Linda, their son Shawn and daughter Shawna, David’s wife Kathleen and their son William. Phyllis was raised on the farm near Brooks and spent a lot of time with her grandmother, Christina Sunstrum. Phyllis attended grade one in Brooks, but went to grade two at One Tree School, riding her pony Biscuit 4 miles each way.

Albert – Maria (Mary) Theresa Annie Albert was called to heaven on November 19, 2004. Mary was born in Sankovce, Czechoslovakia on July 4, 1911. She came to Canada in 1930 at the age of 19 years. She married Louie Albert on September 3, 1930. Mary and Louie lived in the Milk River District before moving to the family farm on Red Creek near Coutts, Alberta in the spring of 1941. They resided there until 1967 when they moved into Coutts. Mary’s passion was cooking; making cabbage rolls, paprika chicken, strudel, poppy seed rolls and much more. She loved growing flowers and always had a huge garden. Mary won many ribbons at Coutts Day Fairs for her flowers, baking and pickles. Mary was predeceased by an infant daughter in 1944, grandson Martin Hacke in 1976, son Ernie in 1990, and her husband Louie in 1990. She was also predeceased by her sisters Helen, Annie and brother Joseph and their spouses all of Hungary, Louie’s brothers and sisters and their spouses.