Obituary of Grace Evelyn Luft

Grace "Evelyn" Luft (nee Lerch) devoted wife, mother, sister, nana, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2008 at the age of 72 years, after a brief but unexpected illness. Evelyn was born on July 2, 1935 in Snowflake, MB and attended a one-room schoolhouse for many years with her seven brothers and sisters. Later on she moved with her family to Winnipeg where several family members still reside. Her independent spirit led her to Calgary in 1956 where she met her future husband Herman whom she married on December 27, 1958. Her passions were oil painting, gardening, entertaining, traveling, bingo, and her grandchildren. She was the Secretary Treasurer for her husband’s business Rainbow Lithographers for many years. Evelyn overcame Tuberculosis at an early age and the challenges of Alzheimer’s later on. In the end she left us too soon. Besides her loving husband of forty-nine years Herman, Evelyn is also survived by her sons, Bruce and Doug Luft; daughter-in-law Sarah Andrews-Luft; and four grandchildren, Ethan, Zoe, Emma, and Madeline Luft, all of Calgary. She is also survived by her brothers Walter Lerch of Winnipeg, and Arnold Lerch of Wetaskiwin, AB; sisters, Elsie Hay of Sidney, BC, Janet Gunn and Ruth Greig, both of Winnipeg, and Shirley Chernenkoff of Chipman, AB; and countless nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son Brian Luft, brother Herb Lerch, and parents Adolf and Zina Lerch. A Celebration of Evelyn’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Fish Creek Chapel (14441 Bannister Road S.E.) on Friday, June 27, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. The family would like to express our sincerest gratitude to the staff at the Beverly Centre Lake Midnapore, Calgary EMS, and the staff at the Rockyview General Hospital, particularly the Emergency Department, Unit 73 and Pastoral Care. In living memory of Evelyn Luft, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.