Pelchat – Ingrid Anna Pelchat passed away on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016 at Sunrise Gardens in Brooks. Ingrid was born in Dala-Jarna, Sweden on June 10th, 1920 to parents Erik and Anna Sporre. She came to Canada with her mother and siblings at the age of 8 following her father who was already in Canada. They came to the Clancy District (Duchess area) and then moved to their farm in the Rainier area. Grampa and Gramma Sporre moved to Mission City, B.C., but Mom stayed behind. Mom met Earl Ward DeForest and they were married in December of 1940. They lived in Brooks for their entire married life. They have 5 children; Kevah, Reid, Sheila, Lissa and Kirby. Mom worked many places during her career. She worked for the Alberta Treasury Branch and the Department of Agriculture with Ira Lapp and Norma Jean Gray. Ingrid worked many 4 H calf sales during her time with the Department of Agriculture. Upon retirement from the Civil Service, Mom decided that retirement wasn’t for her so she took on some part time jobs. One notable one was the Truancy Officer for the Brooks School District. She started her own secretarial business (Ingrid’s Secretarial) which she ran out of a small office in Brooks. Mom was a long time member of the Order of the Royal Purple and served on the Board of Directors of the Brooks Credit Union for many years. After Earl’s passing in 1970, Mom continued working. She still had 2 children at home and 1 in university. In 1973, Mom married Gerald Pelchat and she became stepmom to 5 more boys, John, Brian, Greg, Michael and David. When the Pheasant Hatchery moved to their new location east of Brooks, Gerry had a small office building moved into the back yard of their house so that Mom could run her business out of that. This she did for many years. When Gerry retired, Mom decided to give up her secretarial business so that they could travel and travel they did. They have been to Hawaii, Eastern Canada, United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and many cruises. Along with Mom’s brother Gus and his wife, Renee, Mom and Gerry travelled back to Sweden to see the old homestead where Mom and Uncle Gus were born. They met quite a few of their cousins who still live there to this day. Ingrid was predeceased by her first husband, Earl DeForest in 1970. She was also predeceased by her second husband, Gerry Pelchat, in 2003. Also gone before her were her parents, Erik and Anna Sporre, sister Ellen Ponting, infant sister in Sweden, brothers Carl, John and Gus Sporre. Ingrid is survived by 5 children, Kevah (Bob) Wilcox, Reid (Fay) DeForest, Sheila (Glenn) Eaton, Lissa (Herb) Tanigami and Kirby (Marcy) DeForest. She is also survived by 5 stepsons, John (Linda) Pelchat, Brian (Judy) Pelchat, Greg (Kate) Pelchat, Michael (Kathy) Pelchat and David (Margaret) Pelchat, sister Kay Terepocki; 21 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 23rd at 2:00 PM from the Brooks United Church. Pastor Esther Baerends officiating. Interment at Brooks Cemetery. In memory of Ingrid, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to Brooks and District Health Foundation, Bag 300, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B3.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND
CREMATORIUM, BROOKS, ALBERTA
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