Obituary of Dixie Joyce Girling

December 21, 1940 – Calgary, Alberta

November 20, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Dixie Girling (nee Bordeniuk), beloved wife of Gregory Edgar Girling, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at the age of 83 years.

Born in Calgary on December 21, 1940, Dixie was the oldest child of Mary and Nick Bordeniuk. Dixie was an excellent student with a voracious appetite for reading. She graduated from Western Canada High School in 1958. Shortly thereafter she married her high school sweetheart Greg on October 3, 1959, and they started their 65-year love story and adventure together.

Dixie’s focus quickly became her boys, Randy (1960), Russell (1962), and Trevor (1964). The family moved to Ottawa and Edmonton over the years, always returning to their roots in Calgary. Greg and Dixie spent most of their retirement years (20) raising horses on their acreage near Bottrel, AB, again returning to Calgary as Dixie’s health began to decline.

Dixie always dreamed of having a daughter, a wish that was ultimately fulfilled three times when she welcomed three loving daughters-in-law, Edith, Glenda, and Kelly, into the family. Dixie was blessed with nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and more to come. They will all miss her very much. Her greatest joy was when they were all together, the noise, the laughter, and the love.

Dixie loved to shop, not necessarily to buy, but she often did. She saw beauty in little things, shiny ornaments, bells, and Christmas trees. She loved nature, being in her yard with her dogs, her flowers, and the comfort of a good novel. She loved everything Hollywood, the stars, a good musical, and the gossip. She had her favorite, Elvis, who she joyfully sang and danced to, with her caregiver Louisa, until her final days.

She will be dearly missed by her loving family, her friends, and all those she touched over her almost 84 years with us. The family will be having a private celebration of her life in the coming weeks.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff in units 81 and 47 at the Rockyview General Hospital and Dixie’s caregivers from Longevity Care who made her comfortable over the last couple of months.

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

In living memory of Dixie Girling, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.