Obituary of Lois Carol Mooney

November 25, 1933 – Rosetown, Saskatchewan

October 25, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Mom passed away peacefully in her own home, in her sleep on Friday, October 25, 2024. Although she will be incredibly missed, we all find great comfort that her passing was just as she’d hoped. 

Mom worked as a child in the family restaurant in Colonsay, SK, up until the life-altering event of being accepted by Father Athol Murray as a student at Notre Dame College in Wilcox, SK, just short of the age of nine. She and her siblings (Joan and Dale) were taken in as a favor to her parents, Louis and Elsie Larson. Under the watch of the Sisters of St. Louis (Sister Lou and Sister Em in particular), Mom thrived under the school’s rigorous regime and formed a very special relationship with Father Murray (Pere). She was a sponge to his wealth of knowledge and emerged as a highly accomplished scholar, completing her first year of University Arts with honours at the age of sixteen. Mom left Notre Dame with a steadfast belief in Athol Murray’s core principles that every life is insignificant until you yourself make it great, everything is done by people, and everyone has a responsibility to serve their community and society.

After some time in Los Angeles, CA, with her parents, Mom, at age eighteen, was encouraged by Pere to again venture North to discuss the completion of her BA degree. It was on that trip that Mom and Dad, having attended residential school together for years, finally had an official first date in Regina where Dad proposed marriage at dinner. The rest was history.

In the following years, they had Bill Jr. and went South to Colorado College where Dad would complete his geology degree. Mom, at age 20, worked for a colonel at the Air Force base as a bookkeeper/clerk and had oversight of the Exchange and mess hall, so she was able to have Dad and fellow close friends clean nightly for added income and many free meals. 

Once back in Calgary, and four children later, Dad’s career was well underway, and Mom managed the home front. It was in those years that she volunteered in the late '60s and early '70s for Catholic Family Services. She was recognized as Volunteer of the Year in her second year. She also enjoyed numerous evenings and wind-up weekends with her beloved Bridge Ladies; (being the ‘newest’ member and playing together for 50 years.)

Dad’s career eventually took them to London, England, and Houston, TX, returning to Calgary in 1981. In those years there were many phone calls of the Notre Dame Hounds coming to Calgary to play hockey, or the Notre Dame Choral Group coming for a show. Whether it was 40 kids or 60 kids, Mom on short notice would masterfully and without hesitation have steaks for each to put on the BBQ or arrange three days of food and billeting at a local camp, shopping for and cooking each meal herself.
 

Dad attested numerous times publicly that Mom was the best partner and advisor, contributing and celebrating their many successes together. 
 

Upon retirement, Mom and Dad wintered in Apache Wells in Mesa, AZ. She became quickly involved with Sunshine Acres, a group home setting for children separated from their parents. She was a founding member and driver in the mid-'90s, forming a local computer club. Mom dreaded leaving every spring as Mesa was her happy place, but Dad’s health hastened the end of their winters south in 2014.

Mom was a current member of the Board of Regents for her beloved Athol Murray’s Notre Dame and advocated for decades on its behalf. She also remained steadfast, vocal and fiercely protective when at times Pere’s legacy, mission and spirit were ‘lost in translation’ by some administrations. Mom was just recognized last year by Notre Dame for her lifelong commitment as a matriarch to the college and was the first recipient of the Mooney Legacy Award, to be awarded to exceptional alumni at a national level going forward.

She was predeceased by the love of her life, Bill, in 2016. 
 

Survived by her children, Bill Jr. (Lorraine), Mike (Rhonda), Tim (Lisa), Melissa and Barbara; grandchildren, Billy (Ashley), Connor, Kelly (Mike), Alex, Michael (Christina), Joe (Joanne), Katie (Dan), Anna, Chris (Julieta), Jeffrey and Curtis; and five great-grandchildren, Alina, Sullivan, Lewis, Windsor and a "Twinkle" on the way.

Mom is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins (PEI cousins included). There are too many people to list who loved Mom very much and spent extra time with her in the past five years just visiting or doing errands, but please know the family is grateful and appreciates you all.

A Celebration of Lois’ Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Monday, November 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. Mooney's service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

If friends so desire in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Mooney Bursary at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame, Main St, Wilcox, SK S0G 5E0, (306) 732-2080.

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

In living memory of Lois Carol Mooney, 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.

Click to Sign the Video Guest Book and Watch Lois Mooney's Celebration of Life