Obituary of Bertha Mae Underdahl

March 15, 1933 – Rivercourse, Alberta

January 27, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

It is with sadness that we announce that our mom, Bertha, died after a long battle with dementia on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the age of 90 years.

Bertha was born near Rivercourse, AB, on March 15, 1933. Her family grew up in the poverty of the 1930s and the difficult times of World War II. She married Alan Underdahl in 1953 and spent the next years around oil rig drilling sites in rural AB, SK, and BC, finally settling in Calgary in 1968. She was very social and met many lifelong friends along the way, with whom she maintained contact with. During that time, Bertha had three children and a very busy life as a homemaker, keeping everything running smoothly for her family.

Bertha loved to sew and knit, and put these talents to good use making clothing, sweaters, and household items for the growing family. She also loved to bake, and homemade bread and desserts were a staple in our home.

Bertha was a self-taught, talented musician, playing several musical instruments, including piano and guitar by ear. If you could hum the tune, she could play it! She performed with many country and western bands over the years, often with her sisters Alice and Olive, who were also musically gifted.

Her artistic abilities also extended to painting. She loved to do mountain and landscape oil paintings, learning techniques by following along with painting shows on TV.

Bertha travelled extensively later in life, once her duties as a mother were fulfilled. She went on many cruises with her daughter and travelled with family throughout Canada, the USA, Europe, and Norway.

Bertha is survived by her three children, David (Laurie), Debra (Dave) Hopwood-Jones, and Janis (Andrew Fearne); four grandchildren, Leigh Underdahl, Jimmy Underdahl, Paige Morrison, and Tessa Morrison; and her brother Leslie Djuff, and sister Alice McNalley.

She was predeceased by her sisters Gertie Westgaard and Olive Streifel.

Bertha loved and enjoyed life and had a great sense of humour. She always tried to be happy and lived her own mantra, "Life is what you make it.”

Our Mom was a bright light to those who knew her, a fun person to be around, and a wonderful Mom. We will miss her every day.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the caregivers and staff at St. Marguerite Manor, who all knew Bertha by name. They were very kind and caring and took wonderful care of Mom during this difficult illness. Their compassion was a great comfort to the family and made her final years easier.

A Celebration of Bertha’s Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, 200 – 325 Manning Rd. N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 Telephone: (403) 205-3966, email donorservices@cancer.ab.ca or to The Alzheimer Society of Calgary, 800, 7015 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, AB  T2H 2K6, Telephone: (403)290-0110, https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Bertha’s family here.

In living memory of Bertha Underdahl, 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.