Obituary of Beryl Irene Sibbald

November 4, 1943 – Calgary, Alberta 

January 7, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Beryl Irene Sibbald on Sunday, January 7, 2024, at the age of 80 years.

Beryl was born at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary to parents David and Irene Edge. She was the younger sister to her brother Brian.

Beryl grew up in the Cochrane and Jumping Pound communities. She often rode her horse to the one room Brushy Ridge School in her younger years. She attended Cochrane for grades eight to twelve.

Growing up, Beryl was involved in 4-H and attended many horse shows and gymkhanas in Cochrane and Beaupre.

It was during Beryl’s first year in Nurse’s training in 1963 that she became a Calgary Stampede Princess for that year.

Beryl graduated from the Calgary General Hospital as a Registered Nurse in 1965. She worked on a surgical floor, in the operating room and in the emergency department.

It was in November of 1966 when she married John Sibbald. Beryl and John lived with Edith Sibbald for a year while their house was being built. They moved into their present-day home in Jumping Pound a week before Christmas in 1967. Beryl loved her home on the ranch. She loved riding and some of her best memories are of the long days spent in the saddle and rounding up the cattle. In the last few years, she would ride in the Gator with John making sure no cows were left behind.

Beryl also worked part time in Cochrane for over 20 years as a nurse, initially for Dr. Tittemore and Dr. Dallison and later for Dr. Hanlon and Dr. Maclaughlin.

She often participated in Ranch Rodeos with her good friends and rode in the Hooves of History with John. She loved spending time in her flower garden and also golfed weekly on Ladies Day at the Water Valley Golf Club.

She enjoyed travelling and had many memorable holidays to such places as New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Rome, Greece, Istanbul, Athens, Spain, Kentucky, and Alaska.

Beryl was a long-time member if the Southern Alberta Pioneers and Their Descendants and was the president of the club in 2008.

Beryl is survived and dearly missed by her husband of 57 years, John, her children Cheryl Nixdorff (Paul) and Jay Sibbald (Kari), her grandchildren Brady Nixdorff, Elise Nixdorff (Tanner), Madison Sibbald (Riley), Kylie Sibbald and Kalsie Sibbald, her sisters-in-law Pauline Edge, Lynn Lathwell (Dave), Janet Petherbridge (Larry), and brother-in-law Wayne Sibbald (Donna) as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents David and Irene Edge and her brother Dr. Brian Edge.

Funeral Services will be held at Cochrane Ranchehouse (101 Ranchehouse Rd, Cochrane, AB), on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. with reception to follow. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Beryl’s family here.

In living memory of Beryl Irene Sibbald, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Cochrane, 369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.