Alacia was two pounds and fourteen ounces when she was born at 1:04 p.m. at the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary. Right from the get-go, she was determined. Despite all of the challenges which would present themselves to her, she loved life and led a remarkably rich one.
Her infancy was marked with many medical issues but by the time she was three, things stabilized. She attended Tot Spot Pre-school in Lake Bonavista with assistance from the Grit Calgary Society. She had a gentle and kind teacher, Lori Brosh, who made the experience a meaningful one. Through Grit Calgary, she was connected with Nancy Laforet, who worked as an aide with Alacia for the next three years, opening many doors and creating new experiences.
Starting in 2002, Alacia attended Emily Follensbee school for nine years. She had amazing teachers, assistants, nurses and friends, all of whom believed in her and truly wanted the best for her. She then attended Central Memorial High School in the “tasc” program where another exceptional teacher, Tash Ellison, came into her life. Tash provided her with a wonderful experience in an integrated setting. Alacia embraced completely the entire educational experience. She loved learning, socializing and making and interacting with friends.
Following graduation from her program at Central Memorial High School in 2016, Alacia began to ease into the transition to the adult world. Her continued desire to socialize, network and forge friendships was met through involvement in numerous programs including Families of Alberta for Conductive Education (F.A.C.E.), Dubasov Dance and Wellness, the Indefinite Arts Centre, the Centre Street Church Special Needs Ministry, the L’Arche Coffee House, Between Friends and the Cerebral Palsy Association of Alberta.
When she was not busy with her programs, Alacia could be found riding her bike through the Lake Bonavista neighbourhood and Fish Creek Park, enjoying a picnic by the lake, shooting down the slopes in a sit ski with help from the Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing( CADS), dog sledding, or on a hike in Kananaskis. She loved the outdoors and nature and just generally being busy. Her keen sense of adventure made her an eager traveller. Alacia journeyed with her family to Norway, Denmark, Hawaii, Florida and Mexico. Her travels also took her across Canada, from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland and Labrador, and many places in between, including Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
In 2001, Alacia became an older sister to Jeffrey. She loved everything about her baby brother and lit up with true joy whenever he entered the room. She attended his baseball and soccer games, among other things, and she was very proud of all of his achievements. As time went on, Jeffrey gracefully undertook the role protector and “big brother” to Alacia and all of the responsibility that goes with that.
There was a special bond between Alacia and her grandparents, Jim and Kelda Shaner. She loved spending time at their acreage, helping Grandma Kelda in the kitchen or teasing Grandpa Jim. She also enjoyed camping with them on Vancouver Island and many other family activities. They were completely devoted to her.
Alacia, her parents and her brother were blessed to have Arlien Joy Gomolo in their lives for the past nine years. Patient and kind, Joy taught Alacia to ride a bike, read and sang to her, baked and scrapbooked with her and participated in her activities. Joy even learned to skate so the two of them could glide around Lake Bonavista in the wintertime. She was with Alacia in the good times and the bad, a solid rock who brought comfort to our entire family, but especially to Alacia. They were the best of friends.
Our family is also grateful to have had Tess Lomibao as one of Alacia’s caregivers. She devoted the past thirteen years to Alacia, providing weekend respite and companionship. Alacia enjoyed her company and looked forward to seeing her every week from the time she was just a little girl. The last time they were together, Alacia managed to say “Tess” for the first time – a significant milestone.
Alacia leaves her loving parents, Susan Shaner-Cortes and Luis Cortes-Silva, her brother Jeffrey, her maternal grandparents Jim and Kelda Shaner, her great grandmother Marian New, her paternal grandfather, Enrique Cortes Corona of Chile, her uncles, Mauricio Cortes (Veronica), Diego Soto (Rosa), cousins Pablo and Larry and their families, her aunt Patricia Cortes and cousin Connie Berrios, her cousin Patricio Ramirez, her aunt, the Honourable Justice Karan Shaner (Arnold Enge) and cousins Daniel and Janet Enge, her dedicated and loving caregivers, Joy and Tess, special friends Gemma Rovelo and Stephanie Sadetsky and many other extended family and friends throughout Canada, Chile and Norway. She was predeceased by her paternal grandmother, Iris Silva Jimenez, her maternal grandmother, Mary Ellen Pennington and her maternal great-grandparents, Rose and Cortland Shaner, Edward New and Jack and Kathryn Kilburn. Her faithful Chihuaua, Bella, will miss her, too. Finally, Alacia will be missed by the amazing community of people who helped to make her short life the rich experience that it was. You are too numerous to name, but you know who you are and we appreciate all you have done.
We extend our gratitude to those who dedicated services to Alacia’s medical needs over the years and most recently: Dr. Roxanne Goldade, Dr. Steven Martin and Dr. Joyce Chu. We are particularly thankful for the extraordinarily compassionate and kind family-centered care of Dr. Chip Doig and the Emergency and ICU team members of the South Calgary Campus Hospital.
We learned so much from Alacia. She met the challenges presented to her head-on, bravely and with graceful determination. In doing so, she taught us the value of patience, acceptance and simply stopping to appreciate life’s gifts every once in awhile. We learned to think creatively about inclusion and kindness for all. She showed us that life offers us much joy, even though at times we may need to work a little harder to take advantage of it; and we were reminded every day that without differences among us, the world would be an exceedingly mundane place.
There will be a viewing at South Calgary Funeral Centre and Crematorium, (12700 Macleod Trail South) on Wednesday, October 25, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at Bonavista Church, (1509 Lake Ontario Drive SE) on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 6:00 p.m.
Alacia’s family respectfully asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Families of Alberta for Conductive Education (F.A.C.E.) www.conductive-education.ca, the Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families (bike program) www.calgarycp.org, the Children’s Link Society (community room and coffee socials)www.childrenslink.ca or the Cerebral Palsy Association of Alberta (Social Programs) www.cpalberta.com .
Alacia, you were the bravest and most resilient soul we could ever know. Your spirit was like no other. We will love you and miss you forever.
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