Obituary of Alexa Winnifred CHURCH

June 27, 1908 – Airdrie, AB December 29, 2014 – Balzac, AB Alexa Church passed away on Monday, December 29, 2014 at her home on the farm at Balzac, AB at the age of 106 years. Alexa was born on her parents’ (Alexander and Gertrude Black) homestead in Yankee Valley east of Airdrie. She is survived by her five children, Robert and his wife Gina of Calgary, Gordon and his wife Rosemary of Balzac, Beverley and her husband Dale Wilson of Drumheller, Stanley and his wife Susan of Bearspaw and Mabel and her husband Gavin Hamilton of Innisfail; eleven grandchildren; and eighteen great-grandchildren. Alexa was predeceased by her husband Bertram Cecil Church in 1984 and her sister Bernice Shuttleworth in 1997. Alexa graduated from Normal School to become a school teacher and started teaching school in 1927 at Columbia School, East of Airdrie and subsequently for five years at Didsbury. Education always played an important part of her life. She demanded that her children apply themselves and “do their best” at whatever endeavour that they took on. She was proud that her children and grandchildren graduated from not only Universities of Calgary and Alberta, but also Holy Cross School of Nursing, University of Edinburgh, University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, University of Wisconsin, Colorado State University, Harvard, Queen’s University, London School of Economics and University of Lethbridge. Alexa lived on the family farm at Balzac from the time of her marriage to Bert in 1934 until her death 80 years later. During this time she had an enduring presence in the local community and church. For all those years her home was a stopping off place for so many – a welcome place to visit. Funeral Services will be held at St. David’s United Church (3303 Capitol Hill Crescent N.W.) on Friday, January 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the charity of the donor’s choice. In living memory of Alexa Church, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, Telephone: 403-276-2296.