Obituary of Elizabeth Anita Klein (nee Skryha)

February 13, 1934 - St. Boniface, Manitoba
February 6, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Elizabeth (Betty) Klein, beloved mother of Cynthia Gallop and wife of Orval Klein of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023, one week shy of her 89^th birthday. Betty was born in St. Boniface, MB on February 13, 1934. She was the third born of four, feisty Ukrainian girls.

Betty had a passion for cooking and made the best Pierogies outside of Ukraine. She also loved bargain grocery shopping, and always had a full pantry. She was also happy to fill her daughter’s pantry, and anyone else who she felt needed “some things”. She had the most wonderful laugh, and often laughed at herself. She loved her grandbabies and was the best on-call babysitter around. She was also a collector of stray dogs. Her best buddy was a stray she brought home named Shadow. He followed her everywhere and brought her home when she started to get confused and lost while out walking.

Betty will be most remembered for being the strongest person anyone knew, both physically and emotionally. Although only 5’4”, and slight, she could be found moving large pieces of furniture by herself during any moving day adventure. She was also not one to suffer fools. She did not tolerate a high school English teacher bullying her daughter, nor did she put up with being fed food or medication she did not want when she entered a care home. Despite her small frame, she could be terrifying, if crossed.

Betty thought the internet was “magic” and would have nothing to do with it or “invisible” banking or credit. She worked two part-time jobs on top of her full-time one, so that she did not have to deal with mortgage debt. She paid off her mortgage in seven years, despite incurring many financial penalties. She refused to get a credit card, and only got a bank card when her financial institution took away her bank book.

Although she physically left us on February 6 in many ways, Betty’s departure began approximately 20 years ago when she was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia. Sadly, she was also stubborn. When, at the age of 55, the doctors instructed her to go on medication to lower her high cholesterol, she did not. Unfortunately, she decided the cure was worse than the illness; no one was going to talk her out of it. It took approximately ten years for this dementia to set in. Hopefully, with COVID and the problem with vaccine misinformation, we have all learned some valuable lessons there.

Betty is survived by her husband of over 30 years, Orval Klein; her daughter, Cynthia Gallop; and grandsons, Joshua, Samuel, and Jonah Tourigny of Calgary, AB; her sons, Robert and Daryl Collison; and grandchildren, Christina (Aaron) Cooke (nee Collison), and Robert Collison Jr. of Southern California. She is also survived by her youngest sister, Faylene (Wayne) Schneider (nee Skryha); nephews, Clay (Danielle), Bart Vandel of Winnipeg, MB and Louis (Denise) Barnowski of Seattle, WA; and her niece, Reyanne (David) Walker (nee Fuller) of Sacramento, CA; as well as several grandnieces and nephews.

Betty was predeceased by her parents, John and Ana Skryha (nee Lozinski) of Winnipeg, MB, her sisters, Marion (Everett) Fuller (nee Skryha) of Sacramento, CA, and Joyce (Frank) Barnowski (nee Skryha) of Seattle, WA, and her nephews, David and Jay Fuller of Sacramento, CA.

A Funeral Service will be held at a later date. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Betty Klein, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.