Karen Mary Hyde born October 6, 1950 in Calgary, Alberta, passed away in the arms of her husband Kelly McDonnell on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at the Foothills Hospital of complications after a brief and sudden return of cancer. Karen had been in remission from breast cancer and had spent an amazingly active winter skiing black runs almost every week keeping her husband Kelly McDonnell on his toes with her zest for life, dancing with the Saint Giles Scottish Country Dance Club for which she was President of the association, taking photography classes and enjoying yoga every week.
Karen had an active and interesting life, where she was a ski bunny jumping out of helicopters, a respiratory technologist, an accountant with Brewster’s Transportation in Banff, became a Certified Management Accountant (CMA/CPA), worked subsequently with Agricore (the Alberta Wheat Board), and was a controller most recently before retiring with Enerflex. In recent years she had been training to become an aquacize and yoga instructor. Karen made friends, encouraged and inspired people everywhere she went and leaves behind a small army of those whose lives she enriched.
We will best remember her as an astonishing, lively and resilient woman who was also a wonderful friend, Mother, Aunt, Sister and Wife.
Karen is survived by her sister, Beverley Whitney of Mayne Island; her niece, Dani Whitney; nephew, Justin Whitney. She is also survived by her adoring husband, Kelly Cameron McDonnell to whom she was wife, best friend, soul-mate, lover and co-adventurer; and daughter, Brandi McDonnell and her children, Rhiannon, Karyna, and Atticus Taylor; son, Kole McDonnell and his children, Keelan Slinn, and Kaylee Slinn-McDonnell; and her daughter, Shonna White and husband, Jason and their children, Morgan and Connor White. She is predeceased by her Father, Delbert Bruce Hyde (1918-1994) who was an RAF pilot in WW2, and her Mother, Ann Nancy Ferguson Cameron (1922-2007) an English teacher, and her twin brother, Delbert Craig Hyde (1950-1983).
The family is planning for a Celebration of her Life in June.
Should you wish, instead of condolences with flowers, Karen would have been very happy for you to make a donation to your favourite charities, or the ones close to her heart such as AARC Animal Rescue 5060 74 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2C 3C9, any humane society or the Women’s Shelter, 500-1509 Centre St SW
Calgary AB T2G 2E6.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Karen Mary Hyde May 7th 2019..
Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services
Death notice for the town of: Airdrie, Province: Alberta