Obituary of Staave Ann Stevenson

Our wonderful, fun loving, positive, and very supportive mother, Staave Stevenson, passed away after a short stay at the Rockyview General Hospital on Sunday, October 21, 2007 at the age of 93 years. Staave’s life was one of optimism, success, family, friends and good times. Her lifetime of achievement started in high school when she won the Lt. Governor’s Gold Medal as the top student in the province. With her own resources she bought our family home and then directed her drive, commitment and vision to our dad. Staave and John were a wonderful team and went on to have three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Staave was also pivotal in helping John build his architectural practice into one of the largest in the province. The Downtown Calgary Rotary Club was a major part of her life where she was involved in all the club’s major projects and sat as the president of the Rotary Anns. Staave’s favorite projects were the Barbeque where she served in various capacities for at least forty years and the annual Rotary Show where she sang in the stage numbers for many, many years. Through all these years Staave had a very special group of “Girls” known as the “Bridge Ladies”. The “Girls” got together every week to play, some of them starting when they were in high school and decades later, though their ranks are thinning, they still meet each week. Staave and John loved to travel and they often went with their friends from Rotary. Two of their outstanding trips were a trip to China and the other a trip to Egypt and the Holy Land. Mom and Dad loved to entertain and there were always events at the Stevenson’s house: movie night on Sundays, themed dinner parties, and in the summer, her birthday at Sylvan Lake. Many of Staave’s best friends would make the drive to the lake for the August 1 celebration and everyone always had a grand time. For nearly the last ten years Staave’s companion and partner has been Carl St. Laurent. Staave and Carl, both Rotarians and Paul Harris Fellows, took great delight in their Rotary activities and he brought much joy into our mother’s life. In the last months Carl has been her tireless, dedicated and loving caregiver. Staave is survived by Jamie’s family, Penny, Tallis, Sophie, and Zachary, Maxwell and Capucine, and Hamish; Maryann’s family, Al, Aaron, and Marika; Doug’s family Josh and Genny; and by her beloved companion Carl. Staave was predeceased by her husband John on June 16, 1993. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Friday, November 2, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com . If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the EMS Foundation of Calgary, 100, 3705 – 35 Street N.E., Calgary, AB T1X 1E1 (Telephone 403-538-6150). In living memory of Staave Stevenson, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: 403-243-8200.