Obituary of Elizabeth G. Challice (née Lewis)

June 14, 1927 – Rochdale, England

September 28, 2019 – Calgary, Alberta

On Saturday, September 28, 2019, Elizabeth died peacefully aged 92 in Calgary.

Elizabeth was born in 1927 in Rochdale, England. She studied music and education at the Royal College of Music, living in London at the end of WWII. There, in the University of London Musical Society choir, she met her future husband, Cyril. They were married in 1951, and in 1957 emigrated to start a new life in Calgary. She loved to be active; she worked as a teacher, earned a B.Ed from the University of Calgary in 1965, and raised her two children. She returned to the University of Calgary and earned her MA in Music Education in 1974.

Elizabeth worked at the Calgary Board of Education for many years as an elementary school music teacher. Her love of music touched the hearts of many children and all who met her. Later, she served as an administrator for music education in the city. She retired from the school board in 1988. Music was always central in her life, and for many years she taught piano. She also played cello, brought to Calgary the first harpsichord and clavichord in the city’s history, and played organ and directed choirs at a several churches in Calgary, including St. Andrews, St. Martin’s, and the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer. She was active in a number of groups in Calgary, including the Anglican Church Women, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and University of Calgary Faculty Women’s Club.

For fun, she loved to garden and was especially fond of planting spring flowers. She also loved to cook and was an avid baker, an expert at needlepoint, and with Cyril by her side she loved to entertain. Her New Year’s Eve parties and trifle were legendary. She also loved to travel. In addition to Rochdale, London, and Calgary, she lived for a time in Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, Madras (Chennai), and Budapest. She was adventurous, curious, generous, loyal, and stoic.

She is survived and deeply missed by Cyril, her husband of sixty-eight years; her children John (Brian) and Anne (Robert); and her grandchildren Ashley and Rachel. She was predeceased by her sister Margaret of Worcestershire, England.

A Funeral Requiem will be held at Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (Corner of 7th Avenue & 1st Street S.E., Calgary, AB) on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Church Hall. Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made in Elizabeth’s memory directly to the charity of the donor’s choice. The family would like to thank the staff at Bow View Manor and Dr. Elisabeth Woolner for their exceptional care.

A tree will be planted in living memory of Elizabeth Challice. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.