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Obituary For Mary Elizabeth (Skrlac) LaFleur
March 7, 1950 – November 23, 2024
It is with sad hearts we announce the passing of Mary Skrlac LaFleur in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Thankfully relieved from her long battle with cancer, she left with a little smile and eyes upcast to inner spaces which said she had found deep peace and rest at last, after so many painful final hours and days.
From humble beginnings in a small Alberta farmhouse lacking power and water, and shared with her father, mother, 4 older brothers and 2 sisters, Mary rose to impressive formal accomplishments. She was a lifelong learner, earning first a diploma in Nursing, soon followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and later, a Masters Degree in Counselling.
Mary’s thirst for living life to the fullest and her enthusiasm for adventure then led her to take a series of challenging and diverse positions in a range of locations: New Zealand, Campbell River, Comox, Victoria, Gold River, Tofino, Williams Lake, Joussard, High Prairie, and finally Grande Prairie, Alberta. She always put her passion for helping people of all kinds to work, no matter where she found herself.
With her wide range of other interests, and fueled by her appetite for endless exploration in both knowledge and skills, Mary wholeheartedly pursued her many interests, ranging from horseback riding, photography, writing, visual arts to philosophy and psychology , all forms of spirituality and self-realization, indigenous culture and history, social justice, and helping those less favoured wherever she found herself – and always people of all kinds.
Throughout her life Mary was always passionate about music. She used the paycheck from her first job at age 16 to buy her first guitar. While she was in her first nursing job, she would get up at 4 a.m. to practice her guitar before going to work. She trained in classical, country and western, and recently enrolled in an online jazz program, stoked about learning new and more complex rhythms for her bass playing. One of her happiest moments was being invited to join the band, the Remnants.
Unpretentious, insightful, open, outspoken, funny, with an infectious laugh, ready for banter, (including at her own expense), cheeky, endlessly curious, sometimes goofy but impatient with nonsense, unafraid of risk or novelty, daring to tread where others wavered, warm, compassionate, feisty, impulsive, unconventional, wearing her learning lightly – in her personal relationships, Mary was all these things and more, sometimes in dizzying rapid succession. This way, she attracted a wide range of friends and admirers, taking folks as she found them while leaving each feeling honoured by her.
To those she held close, she was a warm friend and empathic adviser.
Mary is survived by her siblings Steve (Allene), Bill (Jocelyn), Joe (Lyn), Barbara (Felix) and Francie. She also leaves behind daughter Lisa (Chris) and their children Conor and Willow, her son Jeremy (Casey) and their children Bryce and Clarke.
She is predeceased by her partner, Edith Guild, and her brother Walter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be considered to the Compassion House Foundation in Edmonton, Prairie Lake Hospice in Grande Prairie or to the Alberta Cancer Foundation.
An open house style gathering of family and friends will take place on Saturday, November 30th, 2024 from 1-3pm at Bear Creek Funeral Home (11802 99 Ave in Grande Prairie, Alberta).
Care entrusted to Bear creek Funeral Home 780-830-7742 bcfh.ca
Services
30
Nov
Open House Gathering of Friends and Family
01:00 PM – 03:00 PM
Bear Creek Funeral Home 11802 99 Ave Grande Prairie, AB T8W 0C7
07/03/1950 23/11/2024
Death notice for the town of: Grande-Prairie, Province: Alberta
death notice Mary Elizabeth Skrlac LaFleur 07/03/1950 23/11/2024
obituaries notice Mary Elizabeth Skrlac LaFleur 07/03/1950 23/11/2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mary Elizabeth Skrlac LaFleur 07/03/1950 23/11/2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
