Obituary of Frieda Ann ALDCROFT (nee Hildebrand)

October 7, 1940 – Glenbush, Saskatchewan
June 7, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Frieda Aldcroft of Calgary, AB, wife of Edward (Ted) Aldcroft, passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at the age of 79 years.

Frieda and her twin sister Frances were born just outside of Glenbush, SK on October 7, 1940 to Isaak and Margaret Hildebrand. They were the second and third daughters born to the family and arrived with much excitement six weeks prematurely. Before the twins were one year old, the family moved to British Columbia, where Frieda grew up on a farm east of Chilliwack, BC. The twins did everything together until they graduated from high school.

Frieda attended nursing school in Vancouver and then drove to Toronto to work at Sick Children’s Hospital after she graduated.  She received a scholarship to McGill to further advance her nursing education and later attended Ryerson University to become a certified nursing instructor. Frieda progressively advanced through her career, from being a nurse to a nursing manager, working at various hospitals in Toronto specializing in maternal post-natal and anti-natal care.

Frieda met and married Ted Aldcroft in Toronto in 1969 and while chose to move to Calgary in 2002 to be a closer to her daughter and grandchildren, they remained friends and in touch until Frieda passed away.  Frieda and Ted lived in Toronto and they took up sailing shortly after they were married, learning to sail in Toronto Harbour. After their daughter, Stephanie Campbell (nee Aldcroft), was born, they bought our first sailboat and Frieda happily spent summer weekends and family holidays on the sailboat, sailing around Lake Simcoe and later, Georgian Bay, ON.
 

Frieda retired early due to a heart condition but excitedly moved to Calgary, AB in 2002 to be closer to her daughter and her grandchildren.  Upon moving to Calgary, Frieda continued with her love of gardening, planting a beautiful flower and herb garden in her backyard. Her friends and family enjoyed many afternoons and evenings visiting Frieda and admiring her backyard. 

Frieda also became a member of the Newcomers Club when she moved to Calgary and remained involved with Newcomers, and later its sister organization, NuGrads, until February 2020. Frieda was involved with several of the interest groups within Newcomers/NuGrads including the walking club, the book club and the gardening club, and became part of the executive for Newcomers/NuGrads.  Frieda helped plan various club events and coordinated the volunteers from Newcomers/NuGrads, and volunteered countless times herself, to work at the Calgary Food bank, the annual Calgary Reads book sale event and the Reset Society.

Frieda’s other love was travel. She and Ted went on many winter vacations to Club Mediterranean and other trips, some of her favorites being to the Greek islands.  Frieda also loved to travel with her sisters and her daughter’s family, most recently travelling on a cruise in the Baltic Sea with her sister Grace and travelling to Paris with her daughter’s family.

Frieda accomplished much through her life and was particularly proud of her work to improve maternal anti-natal care at hospitals in Toronto. She will be remembered by her family and her many friends for her love of her grandchildren and all of their accomplishments, her love of sewing, gardening, cooking and travel, and her dedication to both Newcomers/NuGrads and volunteering with the Calgary Food Bank, the Calgary Reads Book Sale and the Reset Society.

Frieda and her sisters and brother, especially her twin sister Frances, remained very close throughout her life, visiting each other and talking on the phone often. She will be deeply missed by Ted, Stephanie, Scott, her grandchildren and all of her family.

In addition to her husband Ted Aldcroft, Frieda is survived by her only daughter Stephanie Campbell, her son-in-law Scott Campbell; and her grandchildren Riley Campbell (age 19) and Zane Campbell (age 15), all of whom reside in Calgary, AB; her twin sister Frances Reinke, her sisters, Shirley Hsu, Ruth Reimer, and Grace Jones,  her brother, Don Hildebrand, and her brothers-in-law Peter Reinke, David Hsu, Bill Reimer and Alvin Born, all of whom reside in British Columbia. Frieda also leaves six nieces: Gwyneth Reinke, Lynette Reimer, Kaleigh Mahoney, Carla Goertzen, Melanie Jones, and Amy Rosvold, and one nephew, Paul Born, as well as many cousins and their families. Frieda was predeceased by two sisters, Verna Born in 1982, and Edith Ross in 2013.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Frieda’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. Donations to the Calgary Food Bank or the Reset Society in her honor would be welcome.

In living memory of Frieda Aldcroft, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th STREET SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.