Obituary of Vanessa Leanne NEUFELD

February 2, 1978 – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan September 10, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta Vanessa Leanne Neufeld of Cochrane, AB, passed away on Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at the age of 41 years. Vanessa was born in Saskatoon, SK, on February 2, 1978 to Jake and Lorraine Neufeld. At age 3, she moved to Aberdeen, SK, when her parents started a dairy farm. She graduated high school at Aberdeen Composite School. She briefly worked at Coles Book Store, McNally Robinson Book Store, And Associated Radiologists all in Saskatoon, SK. She moved to Calgary in 2010 and most recently moved to Cochrane in May, 2019. Vanessa began her Stampede career in 2012 in broadcast rodeo production. She helped to run the live rodeo production, and coordinated photography for the entire Calgary Stampede, and in 2018 she briefly took a contract supporting the youth and foundation team administratively. This years Stampede was the first time she wasn’t able to work there and it broke her heart. The crew at the Stampede were amazing and gave her a pass to come and go as she pleased. She took full advantage of it. In December, 2016, Vanessa was also welcomed into the Master’s College family in Calgary as High School liaison officer. She really enjoyed her job with them. She worked at the school until her cancer diagnoses in January 2019. Vanessa loved to do photography of all kinds but became best known for her storm chasing pictures. Twice she has had her photos published in National Geographic Photo of the Day. She was the winner of World Wide Wow photo contest and has also been featured in Chatelaine magazine and Readers Digest as well as in the UK in the Mirror, Metro, and Telegraph newspapers. Planet Magazine of Saskatoon, SK, did an article on her. Saskatoon Star Phoenix, the Regina Leader, and the Calgary Sun all featured her photos. Vanessa has travelled extensively. Places she’s gone include Costa Rica, Cuba, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Greece, United States, and a mission-based trip to Uganda. Vanessa is survived by her parents, Jake and Lorraine Neufeld of Aberdeen, SK; her brother and sister-in-law, Bradley and Louisa, their children, Amelie, Naiya, and Terran of Kimberley, BC; her brother Jonathan and sister-in-law Shala, their children, Chayton, Junia, Corwin, and Zipporah of Aberdeen, SK; paternal grandparents, Abe and Nettie Neufeld; maternal grandmother Anne Fehr; and a large number of uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends. Vanessa is predeceased by her uncle Julius Neufeld in 1977, maternal grandfather William (Bill) Fehr in 1994, and her aunt Gertie Hamm in 2017. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at Dalmeny Funeral Home (139 3 Street, Dalmeny, SK), on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Graveside Service at Aberdeen Olgafeld Mennonite Church Cemetery (Aberdeen, SK), on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Funeral services will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church (107 McWillie Ave, Saskatoon, SK) on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a light lunch in the Church Hall. Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com. In living memory of Vanessa Neufeld, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Cochrane, 369 RAILWAY STREET, COCHRANE, AB, T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.