Obituary of Shirley Anne Van Leeuwen

December 12, 1936 – Yorkshire, England

August 21, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

 

Shirley Van Leeuwen (nee Hodgson), beloved wife of Peter Van Leeuwen, of Foothills County, AB, passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at the age of 87 years.

 

Shirley's upbringing in rural England helped to mould her strongly determined and sometimes defiant character, which led her from humble roots in a Yorkshire mill town to owning and operating a small horse farm in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains near Calgary. Shirley had strong vision and learned to advocate for herself early and effectively, which led her to leave England and build her life here in Canada. Her vision was rooted in her deep affinity and affection for horses, and led to her becoming a competitive equestrian, respected riding instructor, and accomplished horse breeder. 

 

Woodlands Farm near the rural hamlet of De Winton south of Calgary was Shirley's home and domain for over half a century, and a destination for her many equestrian students, collaborators and friends. In recent years she became known in the community for her talent as a poet, principally through participation in poetry gatherings at De Winton Community Hall. 

 

Most of Shirley's poetry expressed the spirit that animated her appreciation for the natural world and her concern for the future of humanity. Though she was far more a private person than a community-minded person, she deeply appreciated the nation she chose to make her home and especially the province that provided her and her family with boundless opportunity for prosperity and personal growth. 

 

Shirley wrote a song to commemorate Alberta’s centenary in 2005, with lyrics that capture the essence of her perspective on the world and her hopes for the future. Her family shares Shirley's song here in a spirit of gratitude, hope and goodwill, as a testament to the spirit of the person we knew as wife, mother and grandmother. 

 

May spirits such as Shirley Anne Van Leeuwen inspire the future of community, society and humanity across our planet. In this spirit, for the benefit of all, we leave you with the heartfelt sentiment that Shirley expressed when parting company with those she held close to heart.

 

‘God Bless’.

 

Alberta Blue

By Shirley Van Leeuwen

De Winton, Alberta, Canada

 

In clear blue sky sun shines on high

Pure as the mountain rivers flow

Miles of wheat I’ve seen grow fresh and clean

In this beautiful land I know

 

Alberta Blue, a song of you

Must encompass so much of good

That ’til time stood still I’d be singing with a will

As any Albertan would

 

The past century holds freedoms key

To peace and brotherhood's choice

So we’ll build on that and raise the big white hat

In a multilingual voice.

 

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

 

In living memory of Shirley Van Leeuwen, 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.