In Loving Memory Of
Alice Lorraine Fortier
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Alice Lorraine Fortier announces her passing at the QEII Hospital, in Grande Prairie, AB, on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at the age of 87 years.
Alice was born in Edmonton, AB, on May 28, 1933. In response to a letter looking for a “fair, blue-eyed, dark haired girl”, the Beulah Home for unfortunate Women and Girls in Edmonton sent a nurse carrying a tiny baby girl on the train from Edmonton to Wanham, AB. There they passed the wriggling little bundle with full nappies to her new parents, Harold and Ada Bennett. A long ride in the horse-drawn buggy took them to their modest cabin in Peoria, AB, where Alice began life. With little more then huge gardens, plentiful wild game, hard work, and loving hearts, they forged their difficult paths through the Great Depression and WWII. The lessons learned throughout this trying time, honed Alice and her families characters.
When she was 16, Alice went off to Vermillion College where she enrolled in the Home Economics course. Shortly after college Alice married and started a family which grew to 7 children. As Alice raised her family on a small grain farm, she passed the survival lessons she learned from her youth on to her own children. She planted a large garden where all the kids learned the difference between weeds and crop. Like a mother bear, she showed her cubs all the good berry patches that grew along the Smoky River. She taught her family how to butcher and preserve moose, deer and hundreds of chickens over the years. She sat on the seat of the John Deere tractor and pointed to rocks and roots that required her kid’s immediate attention as the farm slowly expanded. She hauled grain from the field, cooked huge nutritious meals, and taught her girls to cook and sew. Each of her children continued the tradition of hard work while raising their own families.
In 1976, Alice moved to Grande Prairie where she resided until her passing. She had various jobs over the years such as a florist, care giver and working at the Grande Prairie Museum for many years. She loved a road trip at any time of the year. She could talk non-stop about the history of the Peoria, Heart Valley and Grande Prairie regions. She looked forward to family gatherings and the opportunity to go berry picking or a trip to visit any of her family. In 2015, Alice moved to Heritage Lodge where she enjoyed living and spent many hours knitting or crocheting mittens and toques for charity.
Alice is survived by her children: Robert (Fay) Scriba of Sherwood Park, AB, Judy (Arnold) Lunn of Tangent, AB, Donna (Larry) Deschene of Grande Prairie, AB, Linda Wozniak (Fred Isayew) of Prince Albert, SK, David (Linda) Renner of smith, AB, James (Terri-Lynne) Renner of Beiseker, AB, and Thomas (Jaynie) Renner of Grande Prairie, AB; as well as 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Alice was a very gregarious person and will be missed by numerous longtime friends from her Vermillion College days and various volunteer positions she held.
Alice was predeceased by her parents Ada and Harold Bennett, brother Fred Bennett, son-in-law Don Wozniak. Due to Covid-19 restrictions a small family celebration will be held in her honor.
A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 11:00am, at Grande Prairie Cemetery.
A livestream of the service will be available to view on Oliver’s Facebook page.
Alice’s family would sincerely like to thank the Staff at Heritage Lodge and the QEII Hospital for the dedicated care that she received over the past several years and difficult past few days. You are all angels in disguise.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to STARS (10911 123 St., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 7Z3) or Grande Spirit Foundation (9505 102 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 7G9).
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Alice Lorraine Fortier May 28 1933 April 28 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Grande-Prairie, Province: Alberta