Valerie Elaine Pritchard

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the death of our matriarch, Valerie Pritchard. Surrounded by her loving family, Valerie passed away peacefully at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at the age of 84 years.

Valerie was born in Calgary, with a very humble upbringing in the community of Sunnyside, where she raised her two sons on her own. She had a very successful thirty year career as an Administrative Assistant, Graduate/Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary.

As an avid gardener, Valerie’s talent for cultivating breathtaking gardens was admired by all who had the pleasure of experiencing them. Her gardens were a true reflection of her love for beauty and nature. Her home would often be the gathering spot for special occasions and celebrations with family and friends.

Valerie volunteered, supported, and canvassed for a variety of causes including The Humane Society, Nature Calgary, NW Garden Group, World Wildlife Canada, Calgary Horticultural Society, Canadian Wildlife Federation and the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo.

Travel was always a passion of Val’s. She travelled to all the continents - trains in Russia, Mongolia, China and Australia, Europe; ships of various shapes and sizes to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Vietnam, Cambodia and Antarctica; tour buses and 4x4s in Africa.

Predeceased by her husband Gordon Pritchard (2012), Valerie will be forever remembered by her children Mark (Sheryl) and Leonard (Jeri-Lynn) Preuter; her grandchildren Ryan (Gillian), Janine (Ben); and her extended family Tracy (Darren), Nicola (Dawson) Carmelo.

In honour of Valerie’s wishes, there will not be a public funeral service. Instead, her family will honour her memory with a private gathering, sharing stories and memories that capture the essence of the incredible woman she was.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Valerie’s family at www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes in Valerie’s honour may be made directly to the charity of the donor’s choice.

The family would like to express their sincerest thank you to the doctors and nurses of the Foothills Hospital Internal Medicine; Unit 46 for the care and attention they provided Valerie in her final month at the hospital.