March 11, 1932 – October 27, 2016
Gen Isabel was born near Dahinda, Saskatchewan on March 11, 1932. Her family had emigrated from Denmark just a few years earlier. Gen was the youngest of five and life was hard in Depression era Saskatchewan. When her parents separated she was only 12 and her sisters Kay and Dot raised her. Gen attended a one-room elementary school and finished her Grade 12 in Regina. She was a naturally shy girl with a lovely disposition who always enjoyed reading. Gen reveled in her nursing education at Regina General Hospital. She graduated in 1953 and took postgraduate courses at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City. She then worked at the General Hospital in Calgary and as a Public Health Nurse with First Nations clients. Although Gen wasn’t much of a traveler, in her later years the nursing reunions were very important to her. In 1958 Gen married Albrecht (Al). They had four daughters in quick succession and Gen continued to work evenings as a private nurse. Remarkably, she also found time to sew her girl’s clothes and bake tempting treats - but never had the heart to lock the freezer where she stored them. Their next-door neighbours in their first house were the Bates family. June and Bill Bates and their daughters Barb and Val were very close friends and that connection between families has continued to this day. Gen was one of the founding members and regularly attended the Calgary Lutheran Church of the Cross in SW Calgary and developed a close friendship with Pastor Holmes who was of great comfort to her over the years. When her sister Dot relocated to Calgary the two families spent many holiday celebrations together. Years later Kay also moved to Calgary and the three sisters thoroughly enjoyed themselves playing competitive card games, sharing books and LOTS of laughter. In 1984 Gen and Al’s youngest daughter had a near-fatal car crash. All of Gen’s nursing skills and faith were called upon for Marguerite’s recovery. The resulting bond has been deep and Marguerite was instrumental in Gen’s recovery from her own health challenges. Gen survived lung cancer and then throat cancer earning her the nickname “Sparky”. Her nursing background seemed to kick in every time she was hospitalized and she rallied numerous times with a feisty spirit and dry sense of humour that the nurses appreciated. Once in palliative care she was told she’d either have to “leave or start working here.” Marguerite helped Gen and Al with meals and daily living until they moved to a senior’s retirement community in Coldstream BC in 2014. They enjoyed being close to Carla’s family. In less than a year though, Gen began a steady decline and ended up in complex care. Even there she endeared herself to the nurses with her wit. Gen had strong faith and believed she was going to a better place – hopefully with lots of books. Gen is survived and dearly missed by Al, her husband of 58 years, brother Ivan (and his daughter Lynne), daughters Karen, Jill, Carla and Marguerite, grandchildren Stuart, Evan, Lucy and Mary, Randi, Tom and Jodi. Her niece Wendy Miles was like another daughter. For service details or to send messages to the family please visit: pleasantvalleyfh.com