Obituary of Olive Daisy Kenney (nee Underhill)

KENNEY, Olive Daisy (nee Underhill)

August 4, 1929 – May 4, 2020

On May 4, 2020, Olive Daisy Kenney, the heavens opened and an army of relatives and dear friends joyfully welcomed our absolutely amazing mother Olive Daisy Kenney into their warm embraces.

Mum never judged another by their appearance, their accomplishments in life or by what others thought of them. She saw everyone as special which enabled people to love her right away, and she in turn, made unconditional room for them in her heart. She had spunk, a zest for life, loved a good social discussion, and listened intensely to what others had to say.

Mum was born on August 4, 1929 and raised by Alice and Reverend George Underhill in Calgary with four siblings.She worked as a nursing assistant. Olive welcomed seven children, twenty-three grandchildren and thirty-five great-grandchildren into the world and remembered each and every one of their birthdays and their age. She sometimes sent the funniest gifts, but you knew that each one had been selected with great care and love and would often be wrapped in plastic bags, wallpaper, duct tape or fancy napkins. You could just feel the love exuding from those packages. She looked forward to Easter, sharing a feast, decorating eggs, and then she would give each child a gift and goodie package for the ride home. She would wave good bye and say, “make sure you call when you get home safe”.

Mum’s marriage to our step-father, Ronald Pust Kenney in 1973, gave her many happy years and the greatest friends in the Redland area where she became a loved member of the surrounding communities. She participated with the Rosebud Theatre group, the Rockyford United Church and many other local organizations. For years she hand wrote personalized Christmas letters to hundreds of area children on behalf of the post office. A letter written to “Nan Kenney, Rosebud” was all that was needed to assure delivery.

Seven years ago she moved to the Wheatland Lodge in Strathmore where she joined many friends and made room for countless others. She loved her time there. The residents and staff became another family for her to love, to care for and to fuss over. Right to the end she wanted to go home to “her friends at the Lodge”. Her regret at ninety years old, would be that she will not get her one-hundredth birthday card from the Queen.

Mum, Nan, Olive, just know,

“If love alone would have saved you.

You never would have died”.

Mum was truly one of our greatest blessings and has left some mighty footprints for us to follow. Heaps of love from your children, Sharon (Ronald) Doig, Catherine (Shalanda) Williams, Cliff (Debbie) Bergeron, Joan Newman and Mark (Carla) Kenney.

A Celebration of Life for our Mum will be announced at a later date. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Olive’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Olive Kenney, 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.