Obituary of Mel DU HAMEL

October 15, 1930 – February 20, 2020 

Mel Du Hamel of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the age of 89.

Mel was born on October 15, 1930 in St. Anne, MB, the youngest of five siblings.  In 1940 Mel’s family moved to the Fraser Valley in BC and settled in Maillardville.  After graduating from high school and working at various jobs Mel joined the R.C.A.F. as a weather observer.  He took basic training at Rockcliffe AFB in Ottawa, ON, followed by postings to Trenton, ON; Churchill, MB; Comox, BC; and Cold Lake, AB.  While at Cold Lake, on his days off, Mel would drive to St. Paul where he met Sonia on a blind date.  Sonia moved to Edmonton with her parents and Mel followed her there after his discharge in 1956.

Mel and Sonia were married on August 31, 1957 in Edmonton, AB.  He worked at CIL and the family resided in Edmonton until relocating to Calgary in 1969.  Mel was a long time employee with CWNG (ATCO Gas) in Calgary, retiring in 1995 with 27 years of service.

Mel enjoyed a long and healthy retirement until his recent health issues.  He enjoyed trips with Sonia to the Fraser Valley and Edmonton to visit friends and relatives, and winter vacations in Palm Desert.  Special vacations included a cruise to Alaska with Orest and Marcia, and a trip to Ontario to see Niagra Falls to celebrate Sonia and Mel’s fiftieth wedding anniversary.  While working, Mel enjoyed taking long walks to get outside after sitting at a desk all day.  He continued to walk gradually shorter distances as he aged, often with a break for coffee along the way.  Mel liked being outside and cut his lawn and shoveled snow well into his 80s.  He wore out several decks of cards playing solitaire.

His family will miss him greatly.

Mel is survived by his loving wife of sixty-two years, Sonia (nee Humeniuk), and his children, Cheryl (Fred) and Grant. He was loving Papa to Jennifer (Aidan), Alex, Scott (Dominique), and Mitchell. He was a dear brother-in-law to Orest and Marcia Humeniuk.

A Celebration of Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB), on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 10:30 am. 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 the Alberta Lung Association, P.O. Box 4500, Station South, Edmonton, AB T6E 6K2 Telephone: 1 (888) 566 – 5864.  www.ab.lung.ca, or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Mel’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

The family wishes to express sincere thanks to the staff at Rockyview General Hospital Unit 73 for the compassionate care which Mel received.

In living memory of Mel Du Hamel, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3,   Telephone: 403-241-0044.