Obituary of Bev Renaud

July 4, 1932 – Fort Frances, Ontario

February 2, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with great memories, and much love, that we remember the wonderful woman known as, Beverly, Bevie, Bev, Mom, Gram, and Grammie.

Bev was born and raised in Fort Frances, Ontario and spent her formulative years in a close-knit community and large loving family. Fort Frances bordered International Falls Minnesota and every year on her July 4th birthday, her father would take her to the pier on the lake to watch the fireworks, which could be seen from the American side. My mother told of how her father had told her the fireworks were for her birthday, and so at five years old she walked among the crowd of people watching the event saying, “thanks for coming to my party and your welcome for the show”. Perhaps, this is when her love of entertaining started.

By the age of twenty-three, Bev had four children to support and so she moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and began a life in the service industry. Bev was an excellent cocktail waitress and an exemplary Canada Safeway employee. She found a home for us all by caretaking a thirty-suite apartment building in exchange for a two-bedroom suite. Days began at 5a.m., when Bev would be up and getting ready for her first shift of the day. With the rest of the household asleep, it was her time for quiet reflection, and on one morning she was overheard talking to herself as she applied her makeup “Bev you are such a lucky woman, you have four great kids, three good jobs and this great suite to live in…you are SO lucky” That was Bev, full of positivity.

In time Bev found her way to Calgary, where she continued to work for Canada Safeway and bought her first house. She filled it with university students to help pay the mortgage. While working at the Sunnyside Safeway, she met a customer who asked her out and so began a forty-five-year relationship, that Bev always referred to as unwed bliss. Bev and Bob Workum were a great team, and he encouraged her to look at a different way earn income. Thus, was born a realtor! Bev was a natural, she loved finding the perfect home for people, and many of those people stayed in her life for years. She started purchasing properties herself, and was a well respected, and savvy businessperson. More than once she changed the perception men had of women in business. She had brains and moxie and was a force to be reckoned with.

Bev was very proud of what she accomplished and was generous with both her love and her resources. Bev and Bob started taking exotic trips, and Bev quickly realized she wanted her entire family to experience the excitement as well, so she took them on many amazing trips as a private tour group. Her belief that travel was education, saw her take her grandchildren to Disneyland, Europe, Thailand etc. As much as she loved to travel, she loved to entertain - Oh, how she loved to entertain! If you spent a Christmas at Bev’s, you knew the joy of the season. Months of preparation went into decorating, cooking, and shopping for gifts. She loved to share her success. Whether at the elegantly set table in Calgary or the patio table in Hills, the food Bev cooked was delicious and plentiful, and she was always happiest when there were many people partaking of it. Often, family didn’t know many of the guests that Bev included at her table. She accepted so many people into her life and made them family.

Bev is survived by her long-time partner Bob Workum. She is remembered lovingly by her daughter Barb of Calgary, AB, (Doreen and former partner Patricia), and her son Kimm of Cambodia. Holding special memories of “Gram” are Carlin Fortier (Yvan), Chloe and Zach Workum, Brent Smith, Michael Renaud, and Cara Borkowski. Bevs “girls” Maureen, Linda, Patsy, Anne Marie, Laura Lee, and JoJo were like daughters to her, and that is how she thought of them.

She was very proud of the four children she raised and was devasted by the early passing of Brian (former wife Maureen) in 2016 and Chris (Linda) in 2018. It is comforting to know that granddaughter, Cailey Renaud (2013) is with her again.

Although we mourn our loss, we must also celebrate the life of a strong, wise woman, who made so many lives so much richer. She was an amazing woman, and her legacy lives on in the many people she helped with a hand up, donation, or words of encouragement.

The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the caregivers at Bethany Calgary. Their kindness and compassion is a credit to their profession and did not go unnoticed.

In living memory of Beverly Renaud, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Heritage, 1708 – 16th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 0L7, Telephone: 403-243-8200.