Obituary of Sophia Mariska LANG

February 19, 1953 – Budapest, Hungary

August 21, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Sophia Lang, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, August 21, 2020 at the age of 67 years. After a ten year journey with breast cancer, Sophia died peacefully in her Calgary home via Medical Assistance in Dying surrounded by friends and family.

Sophia was born on February 19, 1953, in Budapest, Hungary. She was a caring psychologist who helped thousands of individuals for over two decades, especially couples and families. She particularly enjoyed working with family physicians by training them to meet their patients mental health needs. Previously, she worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse, and a prenatal and parenting educator. Sophia found her greatest purpose in being a parent. She was also passionate about human rights, the needs of refugees, and preserving our environment. She herself was a refugee to Canada and arrived in Calgary as a young child. Sophia attended University of Victoria where she earned a BA in Linguistics in1976, followed by British Columbia Institute of Technology for nursing in 1978, and returning for her Masters in Psychology from Gonzaga University in 1995. Countless friends have described her as a self-advocate, a straight-talker, brave, strong, independent, beautiful, witty, wise, and adventurous. She will be missed by a large community of friends and colleagues, and she has expressed deep gratitude for their support and love.

She is survived by her son and his fiancée, Peter Driftmier and Amy Matychuk; her ex-husband David Driftmier, and countless loving friends. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Rudolph and Irene Elkan, and John and Julia Lang; her parents, John and Susanna Lang; and her son John Driftmier.

A Funeral Service will be live streamed on Monday, August 31, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.. Please click the link to watch the service https://www.facebook.com/hillhurstunited/live_videos/. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Sophia’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, Sophia wished for donations to be made to Amnesty International  (312 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa Ontario K1N 1H9) at https://www.amnesty.ca/donate or the International Red Cross at https://www.icrc.org/en/donate.

In living memory of Sophia Lang, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

In living memory of Sophia Lang, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.