Obituary of Lois Harding

Lois Harding passed away on Friday, May 23, 2008, at the age of 93, while living at Extendicare Hillcrest in Calgary. Lois has said many times she had a varied and interesting life. She was always a very good student. By age eight she had moved several times and attended six different schools in London and Guelph, Ontario. She then lived fourteen years in Regina where she attended Collegiate and the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining her B.A. Lois followed this with a stenography course and worked for the YMCA in Toronto and Halifax for a few years. She came back to Winnipeg where she received her M.A. in Psychology. After working some years for a special school in Portage La Prairie, she received her M.A. in Pedagogy from the University of Syracuse. At the age of 61 Lois married Stanley Harding in Calgary and had “20 wonderful years together”. Lois was very fond of music and had a lovely contralto voice. She sang with the Sweet and Low Singers in Portage, the Philharmonic Choir in Winnipeg, and the Senior’s Choir in Calgary. She was a dedicated gardener and had a very soft spot in her heart for children and animals. Lois appreciated the care given to her by the staff of Extendicare Hillcrest and enjoyed visits from friends and family. She was a very caring person and was kind to everyone she met, family, relatives and friends. Lois’ presence will be greatly missed by her sister and brother-in-law, June and Don Pratt and their children: Rob, Jim (Terese) and children Kelsey, Keynan, and Braydon; Margaret and her children Leah, Celina, Alexandra, and Tyler and by Gary Bravar, father to Margaret’s three younger children. She will also be missed by her step children Margaret and her children Karen, Florence, Meghan, and Gwen; and Richard (Gwyneth) and his children Carrie, and Rebecca. She was predeceased by her husband, Stan Harding; father, Harold S. Fry; and mother Stella May Fry (Wismer). A Memorial Service will be held at Scarboro United Church (134 Scarboro Avenue S.W.) on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the charity of the donor’s choice. Thank you to all who have been part of Lois’ life. She appreciated every one of you. Arrangements in care of McInnis and Holloway, Chapel of the Bells, Calgary, AB 1-800-661-1599.