Obituary of Heather Joy Webber

August 15, 1953 – December 6, 2021

Calgary, Alberta

On December 6, 2021, with members of her family present, Heather came peacefully to the end of her earthly life and was freed from her journey with cancer. Over the course of the last year, Heather worked relentlessly to slow the spread of cancer. Her efforts were emboldened by her faith and her steadfast trust for the journey. Heather continued to push for life as she wanted to live through the Christmas season in an effort to spend time with her grandchildren, Mari, Max, and Ramona.

The third of six children, Heather was born in the summer of 1953 in Calgary’s General Hospital to Bob and Marg McKenzie (née Murchie). Her family was full of faith, laughter, and oriented toward service to others. Living in Scarboro, Heather attended both Sunalta School and Western Canada High School, where she made friendships that were sustained late into life. Heather was known for her entrepreneurial and problem-solving spirit, qualities she inherited from her larger-than-life family of origin.

Heather was an artist, most tangibly expressed through her skill and passion for weaving. After high school, she completed post-secondary education in Fiber Arts, including courses in Central America through the Banff Centre. At the age of 21, she opened Shepherd’s Crook, a wool and weaving store in Penny Lane mall, selling local, hand spun, hand-dyed wool and weavings. Shepherd's Crook also offered courses for women to foster their skills. Despite taking a hiatus from wool-working to help raise her family, Heather returned to her love of weaving on both her table and tapestry looms in recent years. 

The metaphor of weaving and tapestry captures Heather’s work throughout her life. Heather started part-time in Children’s Ministry while raising her own four children. What was going to be a short-term opportunity grew into over 22 years on staff with Bethany Chapel in a variety of roles. With the support of Bethany, Heather initiated many programs that wove together the church community with the enrichment of neighbourhoods throughout Calgary, including Great Treasures Preschool, Thread Shed, Toy and Tool lending libraries, community meals, English language learning and Hope Cleaning to name a few.  Heather sought and relied on the unique gifts of the community members she encountered, connecting people with projects and visions to support and empower the greater good. 

Heather saw the potential in faith-seeking organizations to do more to serve their surrounding communities. She became a trusted and reliable partner of many of Calgary’s social services, and worked to build cohesion between faith communities, civic, and non-profit organizations. Heather was proud to serve on various boards and committees in service to this mission. She enjoyed her work with Encompass, U-Reach Calgary, the City of Calgary Local Immigration Partnership Committee, and Calgary Interfaith Council among others. Through her work with SIM and then Vision Ministries, she never lost her focus on helping individuals and families in need. She was particularly attuned to the call of welcoming and supporting newcomer and refugee families. 

Heather will be missed by her husband Dave, her four children and their partners, three grandchildren, extended family, dear friends, as well as many throughout Calgary who can see our lives as abundant and offer that to the needs of those around us. The family that Heather leaves behind is beholden to the community that surrounds us for their acts of kindness and affirmation throughout this journey. With regard to Heather’s last year of life, we must thank Dean and the team with the Complex Cancer Management Service, and Kim and the team at the Lakeview Shopper’s Pharmacy. Your commitment to walk with Heather until the end means so much to her and us.

Join us in the honouring of Heather’s life of faith and feistiness on December 17, 2021, 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Chapel, 3333 Richardson Way SW, Calgary. Those attending must provide valid government identification (with name and date of birth) AND confirm one of the following: (a) provincial vaccine record with QR code (paper or digital); or (b) negative COVID test (within 72 hrs); or (c) valid medical exemption (signed letter); or (d) under 12 years of age. Please arrive with enough time to check documentation. The service will also be live streamed on Bethany’s youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/BethanyChapelofCalgary. In lieu of flowers, please find an initiative in your community and take a step to support it. In Heather’s words, “don’t overthink it.”