Obituary of Evelyn Williams

With deep sorrow, our family announces the death of our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Evelyn Gladys Vera Williams (nee Wiklun). She passed away on February 16, 2013 at the Edmonton General Hospice Care Centre after a brief battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Bernard, daughter Leigh Anne, son-in-law Mohamad Alnajjar and granddaughter Alia; brother Robert Wiklun (Lenora) and their children Wesley and Brenda; sisters Mavis Wiklun and Betty Benson (Lary) and their daughter Rebecca; as well as brother-in-law Reg Williams and sisters-in-law Dorothy Schalin and June Saunders and their families. She was predeceased by her parents Edof and Magda Wiklun and brother-in-law George Williams. Born on Jan. 17, 1941 on a farm south of Ryley, Alberta, Evelyn was the third child born to Edof and Magda Wiklun. She was a shy, thoughtful, quiet and dignified child with an even, placid temperment. She attended the local country school from Grade One to Eight, riding horseback every day regardless of the weather. She was an excellent student who was well-liked by everyone. While attending junior and senior high school in Ryley, she participated in various sports including softball, basketball and curling, and she enjoyed singing. She was popular with classmates and was never without a date for any occasion. After she graduated, Evelyn began working in the Beaver County School District Office in Ryley. She was soon to marry Bernard whose employment took them to the pulp mill town of Hinton, where they lived for seven years. While in Hinton, Evelyn worked for the Hinton Herald newspaper office, then as a dental assistant for Dr. Tak Hayashi. She later took a job in the office of Northwest Pulp and Power, where she worked for four years. Bernard was then transferred to Red Deer, and Evelyn found work at Sims Auction Mart. Soon though, their only child was born, and Evelyn left the work force until Leigh Anne started school. During those six years, they left Red Deer to come to Camrose in 1972. In Camrose, Evelyn started what turned out to be a lengthy career with the Camrose School District as a school secretary, first at Charlie Killam and then at Jack Stuart until she retired in 2004. During those 30 years, she got to know many teachers and parents. No doubt some of them are here today to pay their respects to a lady who most everyone loved and respected. Evelyn had a broad scope of interests. She enjoyed music and reading and had an enduring interest in current affairs in Canada and around the world. After she retired, she volunteered as an English as a Second Language tutor. She loved being outdoors to appreciate nature, birds and wildlife, and she was in the habit of walking around Mirror Lake regularly. Evelyn loved traveling, and over the years, the family enjoyed camping in British Columbia and trips to Ontario, Nova Scotia and PEI, various U.S. states, England and Greece. Friends and family were very important to Evelyn. She had a gift for listening and empathy, and her life was blessed and enriched by a wide circle of friends who she treasured. In the last two years, a new great joy came into her life when her only granddaughter Alia Jasmine was born. She was a devoted grandmother and spent many months in Toronto visiting and helping to care for Alia. She has been a part of the congregation at Messiah Lutheran Church since coming to Camrose and has been one of the many volunteers here and a member of the ladies' chorus since her retirement. May she rest in peace and God's light shine upon her. A funeral service was held on Friday, February 22, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. from the Messiah Lutheran Church with Bev Swanson officiating. A private family interment followed in the Camrose Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Foundation or the charity of one's choice.