Obituary of Tove Irene ENGEBRETSEN

November 15, 1942 - Oslo, Norway

February 9, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Tove Irene Engebretsen of Calgary, AB, passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at the age of 77 years. She was surrounded by her family and dear friends in her final days. Tove did not lose her thirteen year battle with cancer; she left it in her right time.

Tove was born in Oslo, Norway on November 15, 1942. As a young adult, Tove took a year from her job at NATO in Oslo to move to an English-speaking country. This commenced her fiercely independent life of adventure, exploration and life-long learning. Her first big move brought her to Montreal, QC, in the 1960’s, where she relished in the diverse cultures, colours, languages, religions, hippies, draft dodgers, women’s movement, art, music, and discussions. Tove found friends there that lasted a lifetime. Tove’s sense of adventure took her all over the world. She spent time hiking in the Norwegian mountains and lived in Holland, Germany, Qatar and England. Eventually making her way to Calgary, AB, where she lived for the next forty years. Tove was active in various roles and committees in the Unitarian Church of Calgary, a community where she said her twins grew up. The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, as well as the Seven Principles of Indigenous teachings, shaped a harmony of how she saw the world. She credits her deep passion for social justice to her upbringing in Norway and her worldly experiences. Tove provided her vibrant energy and insight by volunteering with the Calgary Women’s Centre, Calgary Transit Advisory Group, Calgary Anti-Oppression Network, Justice for Palestinians, Elder Services Corps, and Women Together Ending Poverty. She participated in and learned from her book clubs and her Indigenous friends. She enjoyed drumming in marches and rallies. Tove thrived and was grateful for the ability to live a life of learning, making meaningful contributions doing work that was important to her journey, and sharing those experiences with her children, grandchildren and friends.

Tove is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kristin Bakker and Jaret Hargreaves; son and daughter-in-law, Jan-Olaf Bakker and Melanie Sucha; two grandsons, Grissom and Archer.

Funeral Services will be held at Unitarian Church of Calgary (1703 – 1st Street N.W., Calgary, AB) on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Tove’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.  If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Women’s Centre at www.womenscentrecalgary.org/donate/donate-now/, Wellspring Calgary at www.wellspringcalgary.ca/donate/, the Calgary Unitarian Endowment Trust Fund or to the charity of your choice.

The family want to extend their gratitude and thanks to the phenomenal specialists, doctors, nurses and caregivers that brought Tove as far as she knew she needed to come.

In living memory of Tove Engebretsen, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive S.W., Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.