Obituary of Mildred Bocking

Mildred Bocking (Millie, Auntie Mee), beloved wife of sixty years to the late Vic Bocking, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at the age of 94 years. Mil was born in Calgary on July 22, 1914, the day the ultimatum was sent that started the First World War. Mil was the oldest of four children and attended Bow River grade school, East Calgary High (she walked three miles each direction) and Garbutt Business College in Calgary. She met Vic early in 1938, received her engagement ring on her birthday and they were married September 17, 1938. Millie and Vic had a wonderful and happy life together. After Vic and his dad sold the Blue Label Bottling Co., where Mil was the bookkeeper, Mil and Vic built and operated the now defunct Sunset Motel in Calgary for thirteen years. Mil was instrumental in naming the area Motel Village and Vic was instrumental in beginning the tradition of giving the “White Cowboy Hat” to special visitors to Calgary. Mil was an excellent architect who drew numerous house plans including the Allan House. Mil and Vic travelled Canada and the USA by car and motor home. They also toured the British Isles, Scandinavian countries, Europe, East Russia, Spain, Italy, the Orient, New Zealand, and Australia. They enjoyed over twenty-four cruises on the Big Ships around the world, and spent their winters on Maui (thirty years), where they enjoyed the aloha spirit and their many lifelong friends. Mil was an avid shutterbug and left over eighty albums filled with memories of travels, family and friends. She began sewing at age seven and continued to do so throughout her whole life, making most of her own clothes, and clothes for her then young nieces and nephews and many shirts for her husband who loved to show them off. Mil loved gardening and entertaining and baking, which was one of her favourite pastimes, as well as varied crafts which she excelled in. Auntie Mee is survived by and will be sadly missed by her niece Heather Appleby (nee Roman), whom has been like a daughter to her, as well as Heather’s two daughters, Vicki (Drew) Gillan and Trish (John) Murray in Calgary, whom Mil considered her granddaughters; as well as her five great grand nieces and nephews, Isabella, Sarah, Nicole, Zachary, and Declan, who brought great joy and sunshine in her life. Also surviving are her sister Jan Erskine and her three sons, Bruce (Danuta) Erskine, Barry (Robin) Erskine, Richard Erskine, Bill (Taylor) Acheson, and all their children, Laird, James, Erin, Brent, Bonnie, Sabina, and Lara; and Mil’s cousin Helen Minaijlo and her family. Mil was predeceased by her sister Anne Roman; nephews Don Roman and Dan Erskine; brother Len Banks; sisters-in-law, Joyce Banks and Dorothy Acheson; brother-in-law, Jim Erskine; and cousin Nick Boresky. A Memorial Service will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of floral tributes, those who wish to express their condolences may make a donation to the charity of their choice. In living memory of Mil Bocking, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.