Obituary of Theresa Frances Weston

Theresa Weston was born in Hafford, SK on December 3, 1927 to homesteaders Maria and Stephen Janostin, who brought their hopes and dreams to Canada from Zuberec, Czechoslovakia. Growing up in a happy family with her sisters and brother, Theresa loved her prairie home. She revelled in the beauty of skies, the abundant wildflowers and songbirds, the creeks and sloughs, and the fields of grain. During her teens she attended convent school in North Battleford, then completed her teacher certification in Saskatoon. In 1953, Theresa married Stan, living first in Blairmore, and then moving to Calgary in 1957. There, they raised four children, Cam, Marya, Stephen and Susie. Theresa completed her Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Calgary, graduating in 1969 with a major in French and Art. She loved teaching, first in one-room school houses in Saskatchewan, then in Sechelt, BC and later in big city classrooms in Calgary, delighting children with her stories and art projects, and touching them with her kindness. She enjoyed every living thing, and those that came under her care thrived. She coaxed gloxinias and amaryllises to bloom from year to year, nutured beautiful flower gardens grown from seed, and cared for the numerous dogs, cats, bunnies, wounded birds, chicks, gerbils, hamsters and even baby squirrels that her family brought into her home. Theresa was a marvellous baker, spoiling her friends and family with unmatched apple pies, cinnamon buns, cookies and cakes. No matter how harried and hectic the world, one could always find solace at her table. She was selflessly dedicated to her family, adored her grandchildren, Dale, Erin, Paul, Laura, Katie and Ian, was a mother to daughters-in-law Kim and Shelagh and son-in-law Dean, cherished her numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, and treated everyone as family. She will be deeply missed, and will continue to inspire, all who were blessed to have been a part of her life. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and a Memorial Vigil at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on April 6, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (10827 – 24th Street S.W.) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to make a donation to L’Arche Calgary (307 – 57th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB, T2H 2T6), one of Theresa’s favourite charities.