Obituary of Albina Moon

September 14, 1944 – Prosperity, Alberta

May 11, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Albina Moon, beloved wife of James A. Moon of Calgary, AB, passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the age of 79 years.

Albina was born in Prosperity, AB, on September 14, 1944. She then lived on the Krawec farm near Boyle, AB, until she was eight. Her father Nicoli Krawec passed away in a farming accident in June of 1953. Her mother Annie (nee Malanczuk) later married Andrew Greschuk and they moved to the Greschuk farm near Grassland, joining her stepsister Mary and stepbrothers, John, Eddy, and Albert. In 1954 the melded family moved to Edmonton, where Andrew secured employment with the City of Edmonton.

Albina started school in Boyle, AB, before knowing any English words. She quickly became bilingual albeit not the way the PQ separatist customers expected when she later worked in Montreal. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in Edmonton in 1962 and immediately secured a position with the Royal Bank, 124 Ave Branch.

Albina married James A. Moon on July 10, 1965, in Edmonton. They later moved multiple times due to Jim’s Railway Signalling career; to Montreal in 1972, Kamloops in 1974, Edmonton in 1981, Toronto in 1996, and finally to Calgary in 1998. Albina worked at a bank in each new city, RBC mainly but also the Bank of Nova Scotia and Bank of Montreal.

She made many friends along the way.

Albina accomplished much throughout her life and was particularly proud of her work as a bank teller, interfacing with various people including celebrities such as NHL hockey’s Dave Semenko, MLB’s John Boccabella, and Premier Ernest Manning’s spouse. She excelled on the senior’s wicket, as she would always take time to chat with those special customers. They would stand in line at her wicket, no matter how long the line got, rather than go to another teller.

Albina had a passion for cooking, starting with guidance under her mother who was a good cook with skills and dishes from the old country. Albina had a vast collection of recipe books but used the recipes as only a base for her delicious, albeit undocumented, creations.

Albina’s most memorable vacations were when we took the whole family to Disneyland in 2007 and New York City in 2009. The grandkids were a special joy to her during those holidays.

Albina spoke English with a perfect Canadian accent although sometimes her mouth was faster than her brain so many things were called that thingamajig or “hand me that hoo hoo”, or something like that. Her husband was often called Cam…Jim and Cam was often called Jim…Cam.

She will be remembered for her personality and generosity. She tended to make sure the quantities of food on a plate were way too much, and that there was no limit to how far she would go to get exactly the brand or version of product she preferred. She always preferred the best quality of any product purchased (or married).

Besides her loving husband, Albina is survived by her son Cameron and daughter-in-law Roxanne (nee Skafel) of Red Deer, AB; her grandchildren, Levi Moon of Edmonton, AB, and Chayce Moon of Red Deer, AB; and her adopted daughters, Irene Sonnenberg, Karen Mandrusiak (Sonnenberg) and June Sonnenberg.

Albina is also survived by her stepbrother Albert Greschuk of Calgary, AB, brothers-in-laMB, Noreen Francis Grindell (nee Moon) of Carman, MB, and Dianne (nee Becroft) Moon of Aukland, NZ; as well as niecphees and news, Nick, Sharon, Patricia, Kevin, and Alfred Peter Krawec of Edmonton, AB, Trent Krawec of Fort Smith, AB, Melaniw, E.F. “Ted” Moon of Portage La Prairie, MB, Bill Grindell of Carman, MB, and Calvin Moon of Aukland, NZ; sisters-in-law, Peggy Anne Moon (nee Gemmel) of Portage La Prairie, e Krawec of Boyle, AB, Rosalie Barnes (nee Krawec) of Spruce Grove, AB, Mark Moon of Portage La Prairie, MB, Murray Moon of Winnipeg, MB, Rob Moon of Aukland, NZ, Joelle Moon of Victoria, BC, Shannon Hamnett (nee Grindell) of Winnipeg, MB, Leanne Ryrie (nee Grindell) of Winnipeg, MB, and Brenda Bennett (nee Grindell) on the Bennett farm near Galva, Iowa, USA.

Albina was predeceased by her father Nicoli Krawec and mother Annie Greschuk, stepfather Andrew Greschuk, brother Peter, stepsister Mary, stepbrothers, John and Eddy; and nephew Shawn Krawec (who died in a tragic plane crash near Fort Smith in January). Known surviving spouses are Girdy Rozon, Helen Greschuk, and Elaine Gingras.

Special thanks to Albina’s very good friends, Betty Bogden of Edmonton, Linda Marocchi of Vulcan, AB, and Darlene Vanderwey of Calgary, for their support over the years and through the recent tough times. Also, kudos to the Foothills Hospital ICU A staff for their very competent and kind support to Albina in her last week.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Arthritis Research Canada, 230-2238 Yukon Street, Vancouver, BC V5Y 3P2 Tel: 604-207-0400, https://www.arthritisresearch.ca/donate/.

Funeral Services will be held at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, (16102 Fort Rd NW, Edmonton, AB) on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

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

In living memory of Albina Moon, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.