Obituary of Juanita Marina Wesley

WESLEY, Juanita Marina 
(Twilight Maiden)
July 6, 1972 – Calgary, Alberta
February 1, 2022 – Morley, Alberta

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Juanita Marina Wesley at Morley, AB. Juanita fought a courageous battle with renal kidney failure over the course of two years.

Juanita was from the Stoney Nakoda Nation and grew up in Mini Thni, Morley, AB. She received her education at the Morley Day School and Morley Community School. 

Juanita was an entrepreneur at heart. Growing up she loved to play store with her siblings and cousins. Juanita was one of the first Treaty 7 Youth entrepreneurs to open her own business. She had a love and passion for fashion and pop culture so she opened a clothing boutique. Growing up, Juanita loved to make and design her own clothing. If she couldn’t find a style in stores then she would often make it on her own. Juanita had a natural knack and talent for business and she also took great pride in serving her community in her previous employment with Nakoda Bus Lines, Stoney Nakoda Resort and Stoney Social Services.   

She was very compassionate and humorous which led her to make numerous friends over the years, many whom she considered family. Juanita loved to cook, she took great pride in feeding her family and friends and was often asked to cater for family gatherings and special occasions. Out of all her accomplishments, being a mom to Cheyenne and grandma to her three grandsons was her greatest achievement. She adored her daughter and grandsons and smothered them with love and affection. Juanita also loved the family cats which she affectionately called them “Chugu-ja” meaning grandchild in our Nakoda language. One of Juanita’s fondest memories is of her trip to Hawaii with her daughter and grandsons. Her favorite part of the entire trip was sitting on Waikiki Beach with her daughter and watching her grandsons swim and play in the ocean until sunset.

Juanita is survived by her only daughter Cheyenne Wesley-Girard and her three precious grandsons, Anthony, Angelo and Andreas; siblings, Lindsay (Ellery), Wade (Melvina) and Tara (Chad); her special nephews, “Mechise” Shadow Crawler and her “Juthina” Maceo Crawler; adopted sons, Nikki (Chrissy) Chiniquay, Darius (Dini) Chiniquay; adopted nephew Kyle Kaquitts; her special nieces whom were like her own daughters, Megan (Tosha) and Larana (Tye); her cherished nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly, Twisha, Akeesha, Dretin, Rihanna, Braven, Lily, Maci, Cyrus and Jayden. 

Juanita also leaves behind her lifelong friend and father to her only daughter, Al Girard (Tracy); adopted sisters, Rose Kootenay, Jody Mark, Shawna Mark, Lacey Bare Shin Bone; adopted brothers, Gardner Poucette, Reggie Smalleyes (Jenny) and Harrum “Spee” Smalleyes (Samantha); Aunts and Uncles Una, Virginia, Reatha, Pauline (George), Faye, Janice (Harvey), Gail (Homer), Lenny (Corrina), Laurel (Tracey), Claude, Gerald (Glenna), Jerrot (Rowena). We apologize if we have missed anyone.

Juanita was a direct descendant of Chief Ta Otha Peter Wesley and Chief John Cheneka. She was predeceased by her parents Mona Holloway and Peter Wesley; maternal grandparents Wilfred and Lorna Mark; her paternal grandparents Lazarus and Lily Wesley; cousins, Lenora, Brennon, Robbie, Rochelle, Hayden, Ian, Leona, Lori and Travis.

Wake Services will be held at the Residence of Tarasina Wesley (Morley, AB) on Saturday, February 5, 2022 and Sunday, February 6, 2022. Funeral Services will be held at the Morley Gymnasium (Morley, AB) on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 12:00 p.m.  Graveside Service to follow at Bearspaw Cemetery (Morley, AB).  Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here. Her family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff of the Foothills Medical Centre Unit 37, Sheldon Chumir Peritoneal Dialysis clinic, Dr. Justin Chun, Dr. Riyan Hassan and to the staff of the Stoney Health Centre and Morley Pharmacy. Thank you for all the care and support that you have given mom.

In living memory of Juanita Wesley, 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.