| August 1, 2007 |
With great sorrow, the family announces the passing of Betty Fiell on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at the age of 69 years. After a long battle with cancer which was fought with unsurpassed courage and grace, Betty passed away in peace, with calm acceptance, and with the dignity that marked her entire life.
Betty was born in rural Saskatchewan and although she left for urban life at the age of 19, she carried and treasured the beauty of the family farm and the Saskatchewan prairie within her soul for her entire life. She came to Calgary and met and married the love of her life at the age of 21. While raising children and maintaining a warm and perfect home, Betty also succeeded in the work world. She had a long and successful career at Gulf Oil and also applied her considerable business acumen and talent to the family shoe business. A highly skilled cook and gifted gardener, mom brought many, many hours of joy and happiness to her family and friends. She had an innate understanding of the true meaning of hospitality and more than this, was a talented and supremely wise wife, mother, friend, and mentor who always provided exactly what was needed. Her death is an immeasurable loss, and we will need every example of her courage to help us live without her.
Mom will be remembered with profound gratitude for her gentle and kind love, her graciousness, her compassion for others, and for her ability to bear her burdens without a single complaint. She lived her life by the example she set. Her quiet but formidable courage, strength, and kindness will ever be forgotten and will remain forever locked in the hearts of her family.
Betty is survived by Andrew Fiell, her loving husband of 48 years; her cherished daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Bruce Calvin; son and daughter-in-law Michael ad Lisa Fiell; and her much loved and adored grandchildren, Spencer Calvin and Lindsay and Sean Fiell. Betty also leaves her mother Amelia Schnell and her brothers and sister and all of their families. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law and their families. Betty is predeceased by her father Frank Schnell and her infant brother Richard Schnell.
A memorial service will be held at McInnis & HollowayÕs Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, Alta. on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire Memorial Tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Urban Project Society, 128-7 Ave. S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 0H5. Telephone: (403) 221-8780 or to the Women In Need Society, #1, 3525 - 26 Ave. S.E., Calgary, AB T2B 2M9.