Obituary of Martha Way

It is with deep regret we announce the passing of a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Martha, aged 85, passed away on Friday, August 17, 2007 after a ten-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis. She leaves Larry, her husband of fifty-three years, as well as two sons and two daughters, Kevin (May), Ian (Marleen), Joanne (Brian) Barnett, all of Calgary, and Karen (Darrell) Davis of Edmonton. In addition, five grandsons, five granddaughters and one great-granddaughter have lost their treasured Grandma. Her sister, Elena Tanchak of White Rock, BC is now the sole survivor of the Kochalyk family. Martha was the youngest daughter of Nicholas and Johanna Kochalyk, early pioneers of the Bezanson area near Grande Prairie. Her father was a great advocate of education and Martha was the first student from the area to go to university. She obtained her B.Ed at the University of Alberta, and later completed the course work for her M.Ed at Oregon State in Corvallis, Oregon. Martha taught in many areas in northern Alberta prior to her marriage, and after her ‘baby’, Karen, began school, she returned to teach Home Economics and Commercial Sewing for thirteen years in Calgary – ten years at Central Memorial and three at Lord Beaverbrook. As well, hundreds of Calgary women learned and honed their sewing skills under her tutelage at SAIT. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Crowfoot Chapel (82 Crowfoot Circle N.W.) on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with the interment of the cremated remains to occur in the Way family plot in Strathmore. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Arthritis Society, #200, 1301 – 8 Street S.W., Calgary, AB T2R 1B7 Telephone: (403) 228-2571 or 1 (800) 321-1433 or The Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Suite 201, 222 – 58th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 2S3, Telephone: (403)290-0110, www.alzheimercalgary.com. In living memory of Martha Way, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE N.W. Telephone: (403) 241-0044.