Obituary of Donna May DENCH (nee Hunter)

August 29, 1933 - Baldur, Manitoba
December 13, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with happy sadness that we announce the passing of Donna May Dench of Calgary, Alberta, on Friday, December 13, 2019 at the age of 86 years. This journey began on her birthday, August 29, 1933.  While she was in the hospital to mend a broken hip, her heart decided to retire for good. This peaceful ending is what she wished for.

Donna was born on August 29, 1933 in Baldur, Manitoba.  She is the third of four children of William Henry Hunter and Adeline “Alla” Jonasson. In 1947, at the age of 14 years old, the family moved to Lethbridge, Alberta.  Seven years later, at the age of twenty-one, Donna would meet and marry Ralph Robert Dench. While in Lethbridge she met life-long friend Eva Demuth and worked as a telephone operator for the Alberta Government Telephone Company.  The Dench family moved to Calgary in the early sixties where she has lived until her passing. Donna had a long-term career at Dome Petroleum working for the late Jack Gallagher until the take-over of Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Ltd in 1988, whereupon she was hired on by Amoco to work in the Map Room until her retirement in the mid-nineties.  It was at Dome that she met life-long friends Andrea Clark (husband Allison, daughter Amanda and Trevor, and son Adam) and Audrey Waddell (husband Allan and son Boyd and Tina).

If family was Donna’s first love and priority, a close second was celebrating Christmas followed by baking in the sun, going camping and fishing - many trips spent in the mountains and years spent trailering at Pine Lake with long-time friends Frank Anda and Regina Clark; and then there was cheering on her Canadian sports teams, which included the Calgary Flames – Doug Gilmour and Jim Peplinski, Calgary Stampeders – Doug Flutie (she and Ralph had seasons tickets until Ralph’s passing in 1980, Bill has carried on the torch thereafter).  We can’t miss the Toronto Blue Jays; and, like many of the Hunter Clan - curling with Kevin Koe as a favourite. Note to self - don’t dare interrupt her when they were on the TV!

Donna is the beloved mother to Bill Dench and Tena Manderville, and grandmother to Peggy-Sue Manderville (Cory Trevors, children Lynzi Manderville and Aiden), Victoria Manderville (Nick McIntyre, children Davison and Emma), and Jackson. She is also survived by sisters, Betty Walkingshaw and Sylvia Hunter (Bob Lastuka); sister-in-law Liz Hunter, nieces, Shari Paziuk (Brian), Lindy Sacuta, Patricia Hunter, Brenda Hunter, Donna Stewart, and Diane Darby (Paul); nephews, Rob Walkingshaw, Kirk Hunter, Tom Stewart (Marian), along with many cousins, and dear friends.

She is predeceased by her parents, husband Ralph, grandson Jackson Manderville, sister Margaret Stewart, brother Vernon Hunter, nephews, Alan Sacuta and Jon Stewart; and niece Joyce Walkingshaw.

A Celebration of Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB), on Saturday, December, 21, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

If friends so desire in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to Diabetes Canada, 220, 6223 – 2nd Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 1J5 Telephone: (403) 266-0620, ext. 1112, www.diabetes.ca. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Donna’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

Special thanks go to Dr. Han Friesen and nursing staff at the Calgary Rockyview General Hospital.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Donna Dench.  McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3,   Telephone: 403-241-0044.