Obituary of Mona “Moon” HOLLOWAY

July 10, 1950 – Morley, Alberta
January 4, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Mona Holloway passed away peacefully on January 4, 2021 after a long battle and struggle with complications from diabetes. Mona was a fighter to the end. 

The Family would first and foremost like to extend their gratitude to the Stoney Health Centre and staff for all their unending support and services: The Transportation Department and Home Care. We would like to acknowledge Randall Poucette, Randy Twoyoungmen, Georgina Lefthand, Cassandra Labelle, Skilee Dixon and Satya Joshi from the Morley Pharmacy. We would also like to send our sincerest appreciation to the staff and nurses and doctors and professionals that took great care of our Mother Mona; Northland Dialysis Unit, Dr. Scott Douglas at Sheldon Chumir, The Foothills Medical Centre, and Special Services (Unit 37) at Tom Baker Centre, and The Fanning Centre. Mona made friends wherever she was with her friendly and kind nature. Thank you all.

Mona was born to her beloved parents, the late Wilfred Mark (1989) and Lorna Mark (1998), in the traditional territory of Chiniki; she was named Terhputhè Wiyâ.

She grew up in Mini Thni on traditional Nakoda Territories, Morley, Alberta, surrounded by her close family members from various clans of the Mark, Holloway, Chiniquay, Powderface, Simeon, Baptiste, Labelle, Snow, Daniels, Twoyoungmen, and Crawler kinship.

Mona will be remembered for her kind and gentle nature, her vocal abilities, her generosity, her hospitality, her determination and most of all; her unconditional love to all that knew her.

In her early and lively years, Mona was placed in the Morley Residential School up until her teenage years. After she left the Residential School, she attended Lord Beaverbrook High School and was employed at Peter’s Drive-In. She lived with Gus Peters and his family for some time, to attend high school, before returning to Morley to her parents.

Prior to entering her marriage with her late first husband, Peter Wesley (2012), and starting a family, Mona attended Mount Royal College to study to become a registered nurse. She worked for the Morley Health Centre before changing careers as a Kindergarten Teacher Aide for the Morley Residential Day School. Mona found her calling in working with children in education, as she began her lifelong commitment to driving the school bus for more than 15 years for her community. There, she began many important friendships along the way. Mona developed a close friendship with Carol Jackel, her employer, working for Cardinal Coach Lines. Mona loved her job and never missed a day

Mona was gifted with the incredible talent of music and singing, a gift which was taught to her by her favourite Uncle Charlie Mark. She inspired the rest of her family to hone their musical talents and abilities. Eventually, the whole family became musical, each starting their own bands and projects. Mona was a trailblazer. She became one of the most beloved female country and gospel singers in Morley and surrounding areas. She was always welcomed and invited to sing for families at funerals in their time of loss and comforted them with her angelic voice singing gospel songs.

She joined her first official band Silver Wings in the mid-80s with her original band members: Stefan Twoyoungmen (2009), Edwin Twoyoungmen, Dacster Amos, Reginald Small Eyes, Matthew Kaquitts, and Harrum “Spee” Smalleyes. Through her band she met her second husband, the late Myron Jay Twoyoungmen “MJ” (1991). It was also through her band too that she quickly adopted many of them as family members.

Mona loved to sing every day and play with her guitar. She practiced a lot and her children will remember all those days, no matter where they lived, Mom always had her guitar and singing to bring the heart of their home alive. Mona’s incredible love for music was passed on to all her children. Wherever she lived, there was always music in the air. Mom’s beautiful voice will never be forgotten: soft-spoken and kind.

Mona will be forever cherished and missed by her children, Juanita Wesley, Lindsay Mandy Wesley (Ellery Kaquitts), Peter Wade Wesley (Melvina Goodstoney), Tara Vonnie “Punky” Wesley, and Megan Mark (Tosh). Her special first granddaughter, who was more like a daughter to Mom, Cheyenne Wesley-Girard; her grandchildren, Shadow Crawler, Maceo Wesley-Crawler, Dretin Goodstoney, Twisha Wildman, Rihanna Goodstoney, Braven Goodstoney, Akeesha Kaquitts, Lily Wesley, Macy Goodstoney, and Cyrus Wesley, Blaze and Amaris Mark; her precious great-grandsons, Anthony Wildman, Angelo Wesley, Andreas Wesley “My Cat”; her close nieces and nephews, Stephany, Joy, Chastity, Nicole, Jamie, Hayden, Korol (Adam) Kerry (Angela), Elias, and Colin; special son Al Girard (Tracy).

She is also survived by her siblings, Faye Mark, Gerald Mark (Glenna), Janice Mark (Harvey), Gail Mark (Homer); and baby brother Jerott Mark (Rowena); her maternal aunts and uncles, Ruby Snow, and traditionally adopted mother Sheila Labelle, Horace Holloway Jr., her paternal aunt and uncle, Doreen Simeon and Charlie Mark (Cassie).

Close and special friends and family, Graham, Todd, Butch, Josie, and Christa Holloway. Myron Baptiste (Diane), Jarvis Simeon (Lawana), Charles Mark (Bernadine), Eleanor Mark, Florene Baptiste (Gilbert Francis), Yvonne and Christine Holloway, Kathy Lefthand (Kevin Lefthand), Bernadette Poucette (Chief Clifford Poucette), and Una Wesley.

Her traditionally adopted family, Gardner Poucette, Brennen “Spee” Labelle, Dustin Bearspaw, Toby Dixon, Vaughn Daniels, Olivia Wesley-Daniels, Evelina Amos, Cornelia and Blaze Amos, Shania Powderface, Keesha Crawler-Poucette, Trendan Kaquiits, Ali Crawler, and Geraldine Powderface

Mona was predeceased by her sisters, Victoria Mark (2012), Margaret Mark (2013), and Janet Kay Mark; grandsons, James Girard and Orlando Brian Wesley; other familymembers, Rochelle Cecil (2020), Lenora Simeon-Chiniquay (1994), Brennon Mark (2017), Robbie Mark (2008); brothers-in-law, Clarence Cecil, Lambert Smalleyes; Tia Mark (2018), Verneil and Jerome Poucette, Trayson Mark, Jordena and Cory Baptiste, Andrew Simeon, Nicole Holloway, Orville “Otto” Daniels Jr.; and adopted grandson Tylen Poucette.

She was also predeceased by her maternal grandparents, Horace and Christine Holloway; her maternal great-grandparents, George and Jane Holloway, and Tom and Adaline Powderface. Her paternal grandparents, Paul and Eunice Mark; her paternal great grandparents, John and Agnes Mark, and Tom and Mary Jane Chiniquay.

Her aunts, Beatrice Poucette, Caroline Holloway, Mary Daniels-Holloway, Charlotte Holloway, Reba Baptiste, Georgie Mark, Vera Mark, Elsie Holloway, Arlene Holloway, Eliza Holloway, Olive Holloway. Her uncles, Henry Holloway Sr., Fred Holloway Sr., Eddie Holloway Sr.,  Johnny Mark. Carl Simeon, Ronald Baptiste. Adopted father, Adè dên George Labelle (2018), who helped raise Mona with aunt Inâ-nân Sheila Labelle when Mona was a baby.

Her favorite cousins Justin Simeon Sr., Darlene Labelle, Roderick Mark, Orville Daniels Sr., Clarence Holloway (Snoball), Myrtis Mark, Caroline Amos, Wilfred Chiniquay, and Ronald Poucette.

Mona had relations, from the Blood and Peigan Tribe of Southern Alberta and Treaty 7, The Healys. The Gladstones and The Redguns, The Provosts, The Wadsworths, and The Goodstrikers. Mona was proud of her relations.

Wake Services will be held at the Residence of Tara Wesley (Morley, AB) on Sunday, January 10 & Monday, January 11, 2021.  Funeral Services will be held at the Residence of Tara Wesley (Morley, AB) on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 12:00 p.m.  Graveside Service to follow at Bearspaw Cemetery (Morley, AB). Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Mona’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Mona Holloway, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Cochrane, 369 RAILWAY STREET, COCHRANE, AB T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.