Obituary of Muriel Edna Coleman

January 8, 1928 – Hornchurch, England

August 12, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Muriel Coleman (nee Bradbury), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at the age of 95 years.

Muriel was born in Hornchurch, Essex, England to Albert and Kathleen Bradbury on January 8, 1928. She was their firstborn and was soon joined by a brother, John, and a sister, Sylvia. The family lived in several places in England before settling in Upminster, near London. She spent her teen years, and WW II, there. She worked in retail after leaving school.

Muriel met her husband, Richard, at her 21st birthday party. The couple married in 1951 and lived in a suite in the home of Richard's parents for 5 years. In 1956, the couple, along with Kathleen, emigrated to Canada and settled in Calgary. From the beginning, they embraced their new country and explored the areas surrounding Calgary with new friends and family.

In 1959, Richard and Muriel welcomed a son, Donald, to the family and in 1962, a daughter, Valerie. The subsequent years were filled with picnics, hikes, trips, laughs, and always music. There was invariably music playing in the home. She was known for her baking of goodies for afternoon tea, especially Raspberry Coconut Tarts. Interests over the years have included knitting, sewing, embroidery, ceramics, quilting, decoupage, and lapidary. She was a voracious reader. She was mostly a homemaker but worked seasonally for the Calgary Board of Education. She was also an Avon representative for 15 years and became well known in the community. She volunteered quite a bit and ran the 'Undercroft" thrift shop at St. Barnabas church for a number of years. Once Richard retired in 1984, the world travels started. They were fortunate enough to enjoy many epic trips and cruises all over the world.

Muriel is survived by her brother John of Invermere, daughter Valerie (Robert) of Calgary, daughter-in-law Wendy of Edmonton, granddaughters Jeana (Jason) and Lindsay (Jordon) of Edmonton, grandson Aaron, granddaughter Alison of Calgary, and great-granddaughters Brinley and Melayna of Edmonton. She is also survived by nieces Carol (Mike) of Calgary, and Sherry (Harvey) of Invermere, and nephews Stephen (Andrea) and Terry (Pauline) of England. She is predeceased by her parents, husband Richard, son Donald, and sister Sylvia.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Barnabas Anglican Church (1407 – 7th Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB) on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Muriel’s family here.

In living memory of Muriel Coleman, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.