Obituary of Verna Grace PETRICA

February 15, 1915 – Grassy Lake, AB June 11, 2015 – Calgary, AB Despite failing health Mom was determined that she would be the first family member to live 100 years! And on June 11, 2015 surpassing that event by 4 months she decided her life journey was complete and it was time to rejoin all of her family and friends that had moved on before her. Verna was born in Grassy Lake, Alberta on February 15, 1915 to Clarence Brunsdale and Catharine Sinclair, joining her sisters Leonore and Olive at the family farm in Burdett. Brother Clarence and sister Jean followed to complete the family. Unfortunately mother Catharine passed away and the family was forced to fend for themselves with the older girls carrying many of the family and farm chores. Rhoda Ashton had also lost her husband and she and Clarence married bringing to the Brunsdale family, sisters Mary Ellen, Kay, and Rowena. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Mountain View where the two parents, eight children, and Grandpa Brunsdale all lived together at the family homestead. But this faithful Mormon family was not complete as Avis, Calvin, Ruth and Kenneth followed to make an even dozen. Later, Rhoda passed away and Clarence married Hazel Quigley who had lost her first husband. Calvin died tragically at a young age but all of her siblings went on to marry and have their own families. Verna married Noel Saunders and had son Dale but they divorced soon after. Verna moved to Bellevue and married John Petrica who had recently lost his wife Anna Baher. With John’s son Victor and daughter Irene, Verna and Dale now had a new family. John and Verna added to their family with the arrivals of Susan, Stanley and Sally. Seems that his, hers and our families ran in Verna’s world! With Verna’s passing, she is predeceased by her father, three mothers, all of her brothers and sisters and their spouses except sister Ruth and sister-in-law Shirley. As well, she has also seen the passing of husband John, stepson Victor, son Dale, daughter Susan and grandson Clifford. Left to remember all of their many years together are step daughter Irene (Mike) Kubasek in Burnaby, step-daughter-in-law Betty Petricia in Burnaby, son Stan (Dianne) Petrica in Red Deer and daughter Sally (Mike) Taylor in Calgary. Her beloved grandchildren Theresa, Kevin (Barb), Peter (Maryam), Renee (James), Jeffrey, Kurt (Andria), and Mark (Milusha) all were very dear to her. And finally her Great Grandchildren although much removed from her life, she cherished her pictures of Hudson, Luke, Rebecca, Tommie, Ciara, Amber, Hana, Elliot and Anoush. Verna’s numerous nieces and nephews remember happy times in Bellevue enjoying her hospitality and chocolate cake. Although Verna spent her final years in a Nursing home in Calgary, the Crowsnest Pass was always her home and she would talk frequently of her and John’s house in Maple Leaf where they had lived for close to 70 years. A small family service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 200 Cranston Rd SE, Calgary, AB. Verna will be laid to rest in the Mountain View Cemetery, Waterton, AB on Friday, June 19, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. with Susan, next to Dale and close to her sisters Olive and Mary Ellen. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Verna Petrica, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th STREET S.E.. Telephone: 403-203-0525.