Obituary of Elsie Steffensen

April 30, 1932 – West Bend, Saskatchewan

September 29, 2023 – Calgary, Alberta

Elizabeth (Elsie) Steffensen (neé Skolnik) of Calgary, AB, passed away on Friday, September 29, 2023, at the age of 91 years.

She was born on April 30, 1932, on a farm near West Bend, SK to Wasyl and Mary Skolnik.  She was the youngest of five siblings who were much older than her, so she spent much of her time playing with her patient Pomeranian dog, Gypsy.  As a teenager she attended Sacred Heart Academy in Yorkton, SK. Unfortunately, her high school education came to an end in grade eleven when her parents retired and moved to Buchanan, SK after purchasing a “Red and White” store. Elsie was given the responsibility of operating the store at age seventeen.

Elsie married Blaine (Buff) Steffensen in 1953. Their son Richard (Rick) was born in 1954 and daughter Carla was born in 1955, the same year that Elsie’s father passed away. Elsie’s marriage ended in the late 1950s, and after operating the store alone again, she and her mother sold the store and moved to Yorkton, SK.

Elsie’s strong work ethic shone through as she found employment as a single mother. While Elsie’s mother cared for her children, she earned a living. She progressively improved her skill set and finances with her training and employment. She attended Business College in Regina, worked at the local television station, did clerical work at a parts store and at a meat processor, and finally advanced into a career as a District Manager with Avon Products Canada in Yorkton, then Saskatoon, and finally Calgary. Elsie managed over 150 Avon sales representatives and won many awards for her sales achievements. She also dabbled in real estate and acquired rental properties.

Elsie retired in 1985 in Saskatoon. She was a caregiver to her mother until she passed away in 1988. Elsie fondly cared for her four grandkids.  Her sense of humour, wit, and fun-loving attitude was adored by them. She built a cabin in 1984 at Lake Diefenbaker and spent many happy years sharing it with friends and family. At the lake, Elsie became an avid golfer who even achieved a hole-in-one!  Her grandkids spent many summers at the lake riding in the back of “Big Blue”, the old truck, boating, picking Saskatoon berries, and riding bikes with her. After selling the cabin, Elsie wintered in her condo in Florida until she could no longer travel due to her health. Her final years were spent living in Saskatoon and then in Calgary to be close to her family.

What we all admired most about Elsie was her strength and determination to carve out a successful life for herself and her children.  She did so in an era when most women didn’t have careers, and when life was especially difficult for single women.  Elsie was dedicated to her family; she never remarried, and she cared for her elderly mother as long as she could.  She was determined that her children would receive post-secondary education and always stressed that higher education was the key to a successful life. She was very proud that Rick, Carla, and all her grandchildren earned university degrees.  Elsie lived to see the birth of three great-grandchildren, and their visits gave her great joy.

Elsie is lovingly remembered and survived by her children, Rick (Veronica) Steffensen and Carla (Lawrence) Dudar; grandchildren, Lesley (Trevor) Read, Patrick Dudar, Leah (Brett) Forman all of Calgary, Danielle (Jason) Abt of London, England; great-grandson Owen and great-granddaughters, Scarlett and Alice, all of Calgary AB.  

The family would like to acknowledge the staff at the South Health Campus, Unit 78, with special thanks to Dr. Chan and Dr Amir. They all made her last chapter comfortable for both her and the family.

Family will celebrate Elsie’s life privately at a later date. She will be laid to rest in Yorkton, SK. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Elsie’s family here.

In living memory of Elsie Steffensen, 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.