Obituary of Tiffany Faith HAENSEL (nee Berstad)

November 18, 1984 – Melfort, Saskatchewan
April 20, 2021 – Cochrane, Alberta

Tiffany Faith Haensel was born on November 18, 1984 to Mylo and Rhonda Berstad, a sister for Naomi and Jeremy. She was the family “peacemaker”, never wanting to make waves with anyone. She spent many hours with her brother and sister, making forts in the bushes, SWIMMING, quadding, or going on picnics and many memorable vacations with them and her mom and dad, including two trips to Disneyworld, which she loved. 

She accepted Christ as her saviour early in life and at 12 years old, was baptised, solidifying her commitment to follow Jesus Christ the rest of her life. She always wanted to be a missionary and that she was! Maybe not in a far away land that she had envisioned, but here at home, spreading Jesus’ love and message wherever she went. She spent many summers at Torch Trail Bible Camp first as a camper and then as a counsellor. Her easy-going personality made it easy to make friends and she’s kept in touch with many of those friends throughout her life and she treasured those friendships. 

After graduating from high school, she attended Capernwray Bible School in New Zealand and then went on to take LPN training in Drumheller, AB. She would visit Naomi and Philip in Cochrane, AB, on weekends and go to church with them where Naomi introduced her to Jon Haensel who became the love of her life. They were married on June 17, 2006. She loved the “adventures” that Jon took her on, from sheep hunting in Alberta to alligator hunting in Florida. 

Tiffany worked as a nurse at the Bethany Care Home in Cochrane, Canmore General Hospital, as well as the hospital in Strathmore where they lived for a few years. They moved back to Cochrane in 2011, this time, just two miles down the road from Naomi and Philip. She and Naomi were thrilled to be living so close to each other. 

On June 6, 2012, Faith was born, and Tiffany and Jon were so excited to be parents! Two years later on March 20, 2014, Remington made his appearance, and their little family was complete. She LOVED being a mom and spent countless hours reading to the kids, taking them multiple times to the Calgary Zoo and the Science Centre, and doing all kinds of crafts and games with them, as well as picnics in the backyard, playing in the sand at the river “beach”, or taking the “rhino” out for a bigger “adventure” into the hills behind their house.

Living so close to Naomi, Philip, Bailey, and Madison gave a great opportunity for close bonding between the cousins and a closer bonding with her sister and nieces which was important to her. Even though they lived 9 hours apart, her mom, dad and Jeremy would get together with them at least every 3 months and Tiffany would be sure to come out a couple times with the kids to spend a week swimming in Grama and Grampa’s little swimming pool, picnicking at “Besko’s Camp”, or quadding in the Pines with Jeremy and Mom and Dad. 

Marrying into the Haensel family gave her more opportunities for more fun with more family which she loved! She loved her time at Mom and Dad Haensel’s cabin at Tobin Lake, spending many Christmases, Easters, or Thanksgivings with the whole gang. She loved picking blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, going for an early morning walk, or simply spending time down at the beach visiting with Mom, Dad, Keith, Mel, Julie-Anne and Ryan while the kids played in the sand with Connor, Griffin and Arwyn, Rosalyn and Madelyn. 

She loved fishing, boating and tubing behind the boat and of course, SWIMMING! Tiffany would often say that God knew how much she loved swimming so maybe God would give her fins and gills so she could swim in the ocean up in heaven! She was a girl of many talents, composing a few songs, writing a children’s book for Faith and Remington plus crocheting, sewing and trying out new recipes on Jon but decorating was her passion. She loved to decorate their own home and switching it up often. Many others, who didn’t have that “passion” were just as excited to have her help as she was to give it!

Tiffany showed grace and mercy to everyone. She set an example of how to live life, she showed how to love people, how to be selfless, caring, generous, and faithful. She lived as if every day was for Jesus.

In October 2017, Tiffany was diagnosed with breast cancer and began treatments of chemo, surgery and radiation. She took this in stride, giving God all the credit for her calm and peaceful feelings.  Following Tiffany’s treatments, Jon and Tiffany took Faith and Remington to Disneyland, a vacation that Tiffany was even more excited about than the kids! Unfortunately, the cancer returned in December 2020, but she faced that head-on with the same confidence that God would be with her through it all and knowing that Jon, her “rock” would be with her through the difficult journey as well.  

She passed away on Wednesday, April 20, 2021 at home with Jon by her side and went to meet her Saviour face to face. And now she’s marvelling up close at the northern lights and multitude of stars that she so loved here on earth, and..... SWIMMING!

Tiffany is survived by her husband Jon, children, Faith and Remington; her parents, Mylo and Rhonda Berstad; sister and brother-in-law, Naomi (Philip)Schellenberg; and nieces, Bailey and Madison; brother Jeremy Berstad, mother and father-in-law, Robin and Katherine Haensel; brother and sister-in-law, Keith and Melanie Hanesel; and children, Connor, Griffin and Arwyn; sister and brother-in-law, Julie-Anne (Ryan) Sparkes; and nieces, Rosalyn and Madalyn; grama Lilly Person, and grama Haensel, auntie Loretta (Murray), and sons, Stephen and Chris; cousins, Carey and Pam; as well as numerous relatives and friends.  

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Cochrane, 369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB), on Sunday, April 25, 2021 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at Fedusiak Funeral Chapel (306 Saskatchewan Dr. West, Melfort, SK) on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A Private Graveside Service will follow. 

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to Torch Trail Bible Camp, P.O. Box 84, Choiceland, SK, S0J 0M0, https://onehopecanada.givingfuel.com/torch-trail. 

Pallbearers: 

Jeremy Berstad

Phillip Schellenberg

Ryan Sparkes

Devon Floyd

Lynnel Person

Reagan Yeager

In living memory of Tiffany Haensel, 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.