Obituary of Gale Elaine PHILLIPS

March 22, 1962 – Vernon, British Columbia

April 8, 2021– Calgary, Alberta

Gale Phillips, beloved mother to Jean-Luc Journeau and partner to Terry Olson both of Calgary, AB, passed away on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at the age of 59 years.

Gale was born in Vernon, BC, on March 22, 1962. She lived in Lumby, BC until the age of five when her family moved to Calgary, AB, where she spent the better part of her life (with a short time of living in Port Coquitlam and Salman Arm BC). Gale graduated from Forest Lawn High School in 1980 and worked for Fortis Inc. for twenty-plus years most of those as a dispatcher. Gale married Gerald Journeau in 1987, and in November of 1994, they welcomed their son, Jean-Luc Journeau into the world.

Gale had a great love for animals (which she got from her father) and spent a number of years before Jean-Luc arrived, volunteering at the Calgary Zoo. Gale enjoyed doing a lot of different activities which included skiing, camping, fishing, and golfing, but her favorite pastime was gardening.  She would plan out her garden through the winter and make it come alive in the spring and summer. She also loved to travel, some of her destinations were, The Dominion Republic, South East Asia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Belize, Mexico, Panama, and USA. Gales vacations were all an adventure for her, but one of her favorites was when she and her son, Jean-Luc went on a week-long motor bike trip into BC, making their way to her nephews wedding in Kamloops.

One of her biggest accomplishments was achieving her 2nd degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. Gale started out in Martial Arts just for the exercise, but it soon developed into a love and passion for the Sport and Arts. After much training and discipline, she became an accomplished 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do. When Gale she was working towards her Black Belt, I remember her saying to me, that she had no idea she would have to learn a different language (Korean) in order to do her testing. She said that was the hardest part.

Jean-Luc fondly recalls one of the quotes that Gale would often say to him, it comes from the book, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Sheila McGraw. “I will love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I am living my baby you’ll be” Gale will be most remembered for her compassion for people and animals, as well as her wonderful sense of humor.

As Jean-Luc says, “She was the Mama Bear to all of my friends” to know Gale, was to love Gale. If you had the privilege of having Gale as a friend in your life, you knew you had a true and faithful friend.

Gale is survived by her son Jean-Luc Journeau of Calgary, and her partner Terry Olson of Calgary. She is also survived by  her mother Merle Phillips of Airdrie, brother and sister-in-law, Budd and Priscilla Phillips of Fort St. John; sister and brother-in-law, Dawn and Bob Paquette of Crossfield; as well as nieces, great-nieces and nephews, Melissa and Rob Tucker, Rhys and Brynna of Grande Prairie, Kimberly Phillips of Grand Prairie,  Kelsey and Calvin Stewart, Emerson and Ellis of Grande Prairie, Tyler and Jylece Paquette, Leighton and Grady of Kamloops, Jamie and Justin Fuhriman, Makenna and Lucas of Crossfield. Gale was predeceased by her dad Bert Phillips of Edmonton.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a Celebration of Life will be determined at a later date. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Gale’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. Gale had a heart for the Forest Lawn Boys and Girls Club of Calgary (Now Trellis). Along with many of her lifelong friends, she spent countless hours with this organization. If friends and family so desire, memorial tributes can be made directly in Gale’s memory to this organization using the   link below:  http://www.growwithtrellis.ca/gale-phillips-tribute

In living memory of Gale Phillips, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Eastside, 5388 Memorial Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2A 3V9, Telephone: 403-248-8585.