On December 22, 2023, with great sadness, we (Valerie Mullen and Jan McEwen (Craig), said goodbye to our mom, Sandra Mullen. She passed away peacefully with family by her side, listening to a favourite song she and Dad (George) held dear. We know that he was waiting with open arms to sweep her across the dance floor as he did the day they met in 1959.

Mom to us, Mrs. Mullen to many, taught over a thousand students in the Namao community where she was raised. Her quick wit, humour, and occasional “teacher look” when needed, made her a favourite of many. She shared hilarious and touching stories of students past, and held a spot for each and every one of them in her heart.

Mom’s retirement years were filled with her five cherished grandchildren. She delightfully helped them play hooky so they could have extra grandma time when needed. She attended swim meets, ball games, soccer games, and ski races galore. She was so proud of Brittany, Mairi, Abby, Callum, and Clair. Face lit up, eyes sparkled when they were near.

Mom loved to create amazing art, many treasured pieces hang on the walls of family and friends. Her sewing room overflowed with a spectacular array of colourful fabrics just waiting to come alive in her next projects.

Mom did not want a service but her legacy will live on through the stories we share.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to an animal rescue of your choice. Mom cheerfully accepted every stray animal that came our way….or that we snuck in.

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dad and grandpa.

Brian lost the love of his life on September 17-2022, when our mom (Lynn) passed away.

Brian leaves behind his two daughters, Candyce (John), and Tara (Rich), and his four grandchildren, Coal, Matthew, Hailey and Connor.

The family finds solace and peace knowing they are together again.

                Dale Marjorie Dryden
             July 16, 1958 – Dec 20, 2023

Dale Marjorie Dryden, age 65, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 20th 2023, at the Norwood Capital Care facility. Dale, one of nine children, born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was surrounded by the love of her large family. With seven brothers and one half-sister, Dale’s upbringing was rooted in familial bonds that shaped her
compassionate nature.

Later in life, Dale moved to Edmonton, where she crossed paths with her husband, the love of her life, Wayne William Dryden. Their union blossomed into a beautiful family, with four children and seven grandchildren. She leaves behind cherished memories with her children Erin (Antonio), Braden, Serena, Brooklyn, (Shane) Shawn (Jennifer), Aubrey, Elijah, Jasmine (Brandon), Brady, and Kaydence.

Dale’s love extended beyond blood ties, she was known for her selflessness, always
prioritizing others before herself. Her warm and caring nature endeared her to everyone she met. Dale possessed a remarkable ability to connect with people, taking the time to learn and appreciate their entire life stories. Those who knew Dale carry with them the imprints of her kindness and genuine interest in others.

In addition to her devotion to family and friends, she loved being a grandmother. Dale had a fondness for simple joys, such as her beloved Tim Hortons coffee. She found delight in the magic of Disneyland creating lasting memories surrounded by the enchantment she cherished.

Dale Marjorie Dryden will be remembered not only as an amazing woman, mother, grandmother, and friend but also as a beacon of love and warmth in the lives of those
fortunate enough to know her. Her legacy lives on in the countless hearts she touched, and her memory will forever be etched in the stories shared by those who were
privileged to be a part of her life

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Helge Straarup Welling on December 14, 2023. He was born in Vejen, Denmark on February 12, 1929, as the 7th of 10 children. He grew up on the dairy farm, Haksengaard, milking cows; doing gymnastics with his brothers; and discussing philosophy with family friend, Vilhelm Gernhammer.

In 1951, after serving his country as a conscientious objector in a Danish labour camp, he emigrated to Canada along with his brothers: Jens (who stayed briefly), Frede, and Arne. He worked on farms in both BC and AB, then settled in Edmonton where he met and married Muriel Fredeen, and began working at the Department of Plant Science at the University of Alberta. He spent 31 years at the University, acting as greenhouse supervisor and taking delight in growing the tropical display case that once graced the Agriculture-Forestry Building. He assisted university researchers in the selective breeding of canola and other crops. He also ran a nursery and a landscaping business, and taught many classes on horticulture and indoor gardening at NAIT and other places. Additionally, he contributed to the University of Alberta’s “Home Gardening Course” textbook.

Helge loved flowers, especially orchids and violets, and was a member of the Orchid and Gesneriaceae Societies of Alberta for many years. He was a lifelong gymnast, only giving up handstands at age 87. He was a member of both the Dynamos and UofAgers gymnastics troupes for seniors and loved performing with them; the performances at two World Gymnaestrada events in Europe were especially meaningful to him. He loved dancing and was a member for 40 years of the Edmonton International Folkdancers, where he met his second wife, Laurel Gauld. As a member of the Valhalla Scandinavian Folkdancers, he enjoyed dancing at the Heritage Festival.

Helge was deeply introspective, searching to understand himself and find meaning in life. He translated Vilhelm Gernhammer’s “Why Life Dies,” and the 7 volume “Symbols and Symbol Interpretation,” into English. In accordance with the ideas expressed in these books, Helge chose to live by the principle of non-violence; he chose to love and understand those around him, even if there were conflicts. He delighted in puns and word play and the interplay between different languages. He spoke Danish and English fluently. He studied Esperanto and felt that this world-connecting language was important. He loved singing, literature, storytelling, flowers, good food, and of course, family.

Helge is predeceased by his father, Rasmus, mother, Anna, and siblings: Søren, Jens, Maja, Agatha, Frede, Aage, twins- Ejnar and Gunnar, and by his first wife, Muriel. He is survived by his brother Arne (Aase), wife Laurel, 6 children: Lynn, Alvin (Myrel), Jean (Fred), Karen(Dana), Brian, and Heather (Kurtis), 9 grandchildren: Sean, Alex, Jeffrey, Scarlet, Julie, Mariah, Duncan, Gavin, and Max, and 2 great grandchildren: Marrissa and Connor. He deeply loved his family and we will all miss his warmth and empathy. We hope you will connect with the joy and love that he embodied and spread it to others: sing a song, enjoy some flowers, smile, and above all, hug those you love.

Freeman Stanley Joseph Willerton, known affectionately as Stan, passed away on December 25, 2023 at Pilgrims Hospice in Edmonton, Alberta at the age of 74.

Born on January 11, 1949 in Swan River, Manitoba to Jean June Louise Miller and Joseph George Willerton, he was a history buff and loved watching Westerns. Stan met Wendy Cunningham in 1973; they married in ’74 and converted an old school bus in Wendy’s parent’s backyard.

Stan and Wendy had four children: Freeman, Megan, Matthew and Evan, and 8 cherished grandchildren. He enjoyed skiing, camping, fishing, curling and genealogy. He was a
backyard mechanic, a committed soccer volunteer, a gardener. He loved tinkering and figuring and building and dancing. Stan was well-known for his easy-going nature, his
signature saunter, and his famed backyard rink on which many a Redwater resident learned to skate.

Stan was predeceased by his parents and his siblings Vivian, Denny, Louise and Garth. He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, his children and grandchildren, his two siblings Fay and Everett, and by his 18-foot aluminum Lund.

He will be deeply missed and remembered fondly by all whose lives he touched.

At Stan’s request no service will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cross Cancer Institute or to Pilgrims Hospice.

Bernardin (Bernie) Pare passed away December 14th, 2023 at 79 years of age. in Edmonton, Ab.

He will be remembered as a hard-working, generous and kind man who was always up to lend a helping hand and take on a project or two!

Bernie is predeceased by his parents Raoul and Irma Pare, siblings Norman, Marc, Martin, Adrian, André Pare, Marilyn Pare and loving friends Eric Lindal and Hannes & Dolores Lindal.

He will be lovingly remembered by his siblings Nicole, Gaston, Ginette, Anita, and Joe, daughter Melissa (Shawn & Nicholas) Pare Maffei, many nieces and nephews as well as Judy Lindal, Ernie & Jackie (Anna & Arwen) Lindal, Catherine Lindal, Joseph & Valerie Lindal and Cameron, Dolores (Quinn & Livia) Patterson.
A Funeral Mass will be held for Bernie on January 6th at 2pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Lac La Nonne, AB.
A private burial will take place at a later date.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Vera Soroka at the age of 96 due to natural causes. Immigrating from Ukraine at a young age, she enjoyed most of her life working on the farm in the prairies of Alberta, later moving a short distance into Boyle (1975) with her husband Terenty. The last twelve years were spent in Edmonton close to family, but her heart never left the home quarter where her family will carry on her spirit.

Vera was born in Horochow Ukraine, and was immensely proud of her Ukrainian heritage. Her perogies, cabbage rolls, and dill pickles were the talk of friends and family that had the honor of tasting her home cooking. Many a fall season were also spent in the company of said family and friends communally preparing this food, with plenty of coffee and Baileys to keep morale up!

Her memory will be forever carried in the hearts of her 3 children, Lenard (Debbie), Douglas (Carol), and Debra (Clinton), her 5 grandchildren, Jaclyn (Dallas), Kristen (Kevin), Mark (Diana), Taleana (Ben), and Tarlin, her 5 great grandchildren Claire, Greyson, Ryker, Kaydence, and Kinsley. Vera is survived by her sister-in-law Lil (Cec) and brother-in-law Jeff (Marion). Vera was predeceased by her husband Terenty, sister Anne, brother Nick and his wife Kay, brother Paul, son-in-law Clinton, and grandson Kristopher.

Vera was an adventurous woman and loved to travel at every opportunity. She enjoyed many vacations with her family and friends which included Caribbean and Alaskan cruises, as well as road trips across North America to North Dakota, California, Nevada, Florida (Disneyland), and many others. One of her most cherished trips was a visit back home to Ukraine. In addition to her fine cooking and love of travel, we can’t leave out that she was also a heck of a cribbage player. It’d cost you a penny a point when she won, & two pennies a point when she skunked you.

We’d like to thank all the friends and relatives that came to visit her over the last few months. These visits were precious to Vera. We are forever grateful for Debra’s tender care of Vera over the last year, providing a warm and comforting home until her passing. Finally, we thank her home caregivers, palliative care nurses, and doctors.

In lieu of flowers, our family requests donations to “Stars Air Ambulance” or the “Heart and Stroke Foundation” in Vera’s honour.

A celebration of life will be held January 24, 2024 from 11-3 p.m at the Sandman Hotel (901 Pembina Rd., Sherwood Park, AB, T8H 0Y7). Burial will take place at a later date. Cremation has taken place in accordance with Vera’s wishes.

It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the sudden
passing of John (Nigel) Topliss on November 16, 2023, at the age of 77.

John will be lovingly remembered by his son, Mike; daughter, Heather (Ryan); grand-daughters, Kate and Sarah; sisters Jill (Ed) and Jean (Howard); brother Ed (Brenda), sisters-in-law Kathy and Jeanne, and brothers-in-law Brian (Kathy) and Patrick, as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 51 years, Elizabeth (Betty), his parents, Jack and Barbara, and his sister, Susan.

John had a huge heart and he was the kind of father and grandfather who would get down on the floor (even if he had trouble getting back up) and play any game or work on any puzzle or art project the kids had in mind. He was the “Grampi” who had voices for all of the Barbies and stuffed animals, he never grew tired of playing board games or Wii Price is Right, and he was always up for decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs, carving
pumpkins or painting Christmas ornaments. He could spend hours blowing bubbles in the backyard with his grand-daughter, Kate, or playing his regular (and highly
competitive) card game battles with his grand-daughter, Sarah. John also loved watching Oiler games with his son, Mike, chatting over a cup of coffee with his daughter, Heather, watching movies with his wife in their matching recliners, and getting cuddles from his two cats.

One of the things John’s loved ones will remember most about him is the wealth of knowledge he had about pretty much everything. If you had a question, John likely knew the answer. He could also repair just about anything and he took a lot of pride in making the lives of the people he loved easier. His daughter, Heather, lovingly remembers times when she and her family would go away on vacation and John and Betty would pet-sit on their acreage and she would return to find a spotless house, landscaping work done in the yard, and things like their vacuum cleaner cleaned out and working like new again. John would jump at any opportunity to help those he loved. That was the kind of man he was.

John was born on the Isle of Portland in the English Channel. He had fond memories of his early childhood there but when he was just over a year old, he contracted the Polio virus. It attacked the muscles in his left leg and caused it to be shorter than the other. He underwent many painful surgeries as a child and teenager. The idea was to try to stop the growth of his right leg to give his left leg time to catch up but unfortunately it did not work. He had to learn to walk again and he dealt with a lot of pain throughout his life, but he never complained. He was told by doctors that he would likely be in a wheelchair
full-time by the age of 40, due to muscle deterioration. John was 77 when he passed and while in his last 3 years, he used a walker to assist with getting around, his motto was ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it’ so he made sure to stay as mobile as he could. He was strong in so many ways and he was an inspiration to so many people.

John and his family moved to Canada in 1953 when he was 7 years old. They settled in Edmonton and John had a great childhood enjoying fun times at the lake, horseback
riding and spending time with friends. John met his wife Betty in 1966 when they worked at Safeway together. They married two years later and were blessed with two healthy children and many happy years living in Beaumont, Alberta, before moving to their home in Edmonton, where they would spend their retirement years. John and Betty were the definition of two peas in a pod and they had the kind love that many people spend their whole lives searching for. They took great pride in having a home that was filled with so much love and laughter.

John and Betty loved traveling to Mexico and other tropical locations, and yearly
camping trips in their holiday trailer. They enjoyed fishing trips with many laughs around the campfire, as well as many great times at holiday gatherings with family and friends over the years and times spent with their kids at their cabin at Alberta Beach. John also enjoyed reading, rock-collecting and visiting the pet store to pick out fish for his aquarium.

John and Betty worked hard all of their lives and they often spoke of how blessed they felt. Some of their proudest and happiest moments were spent with their kids, watching their grand-daughters, Kate and Sarah, in horse shows, softball games, awards nights and other activities. You just had to look for the people with the biggest smiles and that would be them.

When John lost Betty in a car accident in 2019, a piece of his heart went with her so his family takes comfort in knowing that Betty was waiting for him with open arms when he left this world. At John’s request, there will not be a formal funeral service. He wanted loved ones to remember him in their own way and think of special memories shared.

John will be tremendously missed by all who were lucky to know him.

Memorial donations in John’s name can be made to the Stollery Children’s Hospital, The Canadian Cancer Society or STARS Air Ambulance.

March 2, 1937 – December 15, 2023
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Lorraine Johnston who passed away surrounded by her loving family on December 15, 2023 at the age of 86.
Lorraine goes to join those who went before her including her husband Roger and her parents Clifford and Myrtle Anderson. Left to treasure her memory are her siblings Doreen , Pauline and Stan. Her children Curtis (Wendy) and Cheryl (Norm), three grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Lorraine will be forever missed by her extended family.
Mom’s last year of life was challenging as she struggled with her health. While it brings us comfort to know she is free from suffering, no words can express how much she was loved by everyone who knew her.
A celebration of life will be announced and held at a later date.