Obituary of Ashley Danielle Lawrence

January 10, 1986 – Calgary, Alberta

November 14, 2022 – Red Deer, Alberta

 

Ashley Lawrence passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022, at the age of 36 years.

 

Ashley was born in Calgary, AB, on January 10, 1986. She graduated from Bishop O’Byrne High School.

 

Ashley can be described as highly spirited, passionate, and compassionate. Her huge heart, love and caring for all people, and pride in her involvement with community defines her true spirit. One of Ashley’s biggest passions was volunteering. Whenever an opportunity arose to help at school events, she took part so enthusiastically! At age nine, she began volunteering with her grandma to feed the homeless. She also volunteered in all aspects of several political campaigns and took part in census taking. As a result of this hard work, Ashley was hired on many occasions to run provincial and federal polling stations. One of her first priorities upon arriving in Nanaimo was to go to the Nanaimo Volunteer Center. From that day forward, she was given access to all the organizations in Nanaimo that required volunteers. Ashley was thrilled to have this access so she could choose ways to help. She always felt so blessed to give of herself and took great pride in all aspects of her volunteer work.

 

Ashley enjoyed all the trips she took with her Mom Gwen, Grandma Glenda, and Grandpa Gordon, including Baton Rouge, where she visited her Auntie Heather and cousins Joshua, and Justin, then travelled to Disney World in Florida together. She also went on two trips to California with her Mom, and Grandparents, were she enjoyed downtown Los Angeles, USA, and was thrilled to visit Rodeo Drive, and many other famous locations. A second trip to Florida, USA, with her Mom, and Grandparents, where one of the highlights was to tour the Everglades. She enjoyed two very fun trips with her Mom to Las Vegas, were they enjoyed the wonders of the Las Vegas strip. Her most recent trip was to Mexico with one of her dearest friends. She loved all the time she spent with her cousins Joshua, and Justin, spending much of their time at their Grandparents home. Ashley loved making pierogies, and Christmas cookies with her Grandma, this was a true highlight for her every year.

 

She will be most remembered for her huge heart, and capacity for genuinely caring for everyone she met. To know Ashley is to know that she loved LOVE. She was very passionate about reading,
including poetry, especially her favorite one.

 

‘I Carry your Heart with Me’

 

“I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)

I am never without it (anywhere

I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

 

I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

 

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

 

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)”.

By E.E. Cummings

 

Ashley treasured and was deeply loved by her mother Gwen, Grandparents Glenda and Gordon; cousins, Joshua, and Justin and Auntie Heather; half-sister Chantal, Godparents, Bob and Marg, and their children, Jennifer, and Kevin; several Great-aunts and Uncles, including Auntie Bernie and Uncle Steve, Uncle Evan and Auntie Sharon, Uncle Brad and Auntie Lynn. Ashley was also much loved and will be missed by her dearest friends (family by choice), Sharon, Harry, Lyle and the entire Murphy family, who welcomed and considered Ashley and her Mom as part of their family for almost thirty years; Breanne, who remained her dearest friend since they met at age four, and Breanne’s family, the McLachlan’s where Ashley was always welcomed and spent so much time growing up, it was like a second home; Richard and Jena Magnus and family, who shared so many beautiful memories with: in addition, Sue, Terry, and family to loved and adored Ashley for all of her years from afar.

 

Ashley and her Mom shared a favourite quote which they said to each other a million times overs, “I love you as big as the whole wide world and back again”.

 

Please feel free to share a special or fun memory, story, and photos of Ash that can be viewed here.

 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes and donations may be made directly to Nanaimo’s Haven Society 2270 Labieux Rd, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 3K7 Telephone: 250-756-2452, www.havensociety.com or the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter Society 4101 54 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4N 7G3 Telephone 403-347-2480,

www.calgarywomensshelter.com are appreciated.

 

In living memory of Ashley Lawrence, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.