Obituary of Mac Orlin James Chappell

Mac passed away peacefully at the Sarcee Hospice on Thursday, August 2, 2007 after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. His eldest daughter Nicola and son-in-law Lee were by his side. Mac was born on his family farm in Oxbow Saskatchewan where he was raised by his parents, Eva and Brock, with older siblings Don, Lenna, and Gwen and younger brother Blair. Mac also felt a brotherly connection to his cousin Kenny (Stephenson) who lived with the Chappell family for a number of years. It was here on the family farm that Mac gained his love for horses and practical jokes. Mac began his career working for the Royal Bank of Canada – a job that took him to many of the small towns in Saskatchewan and also to the Bahamas. Mac had an entrepreneurial spirit and ultimately left the Royal Bank and moved to Biggar, Saskatchewan to open a dry cleaning plant with brother Don. He also initiated a number of business ventures including developing several commercial real estate properties and delivering the Saskatoon Star Phoenix newspaper to small towns. It was in Biggar where Mac met his wife of twenty-four years, Jeannette Eva Reznik and they had two daughters: Nicola and Stacie. Mac was very active in the local community through the United Church, Chamber of Commerce, Town Council, Lion’s Club, coaching, and helping to build the local ski hill. Mac studied to qualify as a long-term care facility manager while in Biggar and began that career locally as the administrator at the Diamond Lodge Care Home. In 1980, Mac and his family left Biggar and moved to Mission, B.C. where he became administrator of the new Pleasantview Care Home. After he and his wife separated in 1986, Mac moved to North Vancouver to manage the Kiwanis Lynn Manor. This position led to a career highlight for Mac because he was instrumental in the Kiwanis Club, securing funding to build a large multi-level seniors facility on Vancouver’s North Shore called Parkway Place. Mac helped oversee the planning and construction of Parkway Place and felt ready for retirement after it officially opened in 1998. Once retired, Mac wanted to golf year round so he became a golfing Canadian Snowbird. He summered in Kelowna, B.C., and spent many winters in El Centro, California making dear friends in both locations. He traveled through Canada, the States and Mexico. One of his favourite adventures was his trip through the Maritime Provinces. Mac was known for his love and pride of his family, his intellect and sense of humour, and his interest and ability to help others when his sage advice was sought – and sometimes even when it was not! He will be dearly missed for all this and more. Mourning his passing are his two daughters and son-in-law Nicola and Lee, and Stacie; his grandchildren Alicia and Jack; his sisters Lenna Needham and Gwen Schieman; his brother Blair Chappell; and his extended family and dear friends. Funeral Services will be held at St. Andrew’s United Church (924 Heritage Drive S.W.) on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 10:30 a.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. In living memory of Mac Chappell, 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.