Claire Symanczyk

Claire was born on May 9, 1942, in the small town of McLennan, in the Peace River area of Northern Alberta. As was the French tradition, she was named Marie, being the firstborn of two daughters. Everyone knew her as Claire Morin. Her early life was marked by many ups and downs, including two stays at different residential schools. Despite the challenges, Claire developed a deep appreciation of Cree arts and music. One of her few treasures from her early life was a pair of mukluks crafted for her, with elaborate embroidery and rabbit fur trim.

In Claire’s early teens, her small family moved to the big city of Edmonton. Claire did not finish high school but chose to go to hair-dressing school instead. In her late teens, feeling brave and a little discontent in Edmonton, Claire hopped on a bus to Calgary. Claire later explained that the shop she worked at would not allow her time off, so she quit and went to see the Calgary Stampede.

Claire settled in Bowness, a town outside of Calgary, where she met David Symanczyk. He spotted her on a bus with a mutual friend, and he knew she was the one. They had a small wedding and were married until his passing in 2022. David used to joke that he married her for her record collection, but he couldn’t believe someone as beautiful as she would marry him.

Claire was a lifelong learner. She pursued many creative hobbies, read a significant number of books, and faithfully listened to CBC radio. She had many jobs and two careers, one as a hairdresser and one as a lunchroom supervisor. Claire took up various forms of crafting, dressmaking, flower arranging, and knitting. Claire always had a garden for vegetables and various flower beds that she spent her summer hours working on. There are many happy memories of Claire and her grandson Cyrus tending the flower beds.

Claire loved her sewing room, music, coffee, the mountains, and curling up in her chair with a good book. Claire also loved to spend time with their first grandson, A.J., at the trailer David and she owned.

Claire Symanczyk is lovingly remembered by her four children, Therese Symanczyk, Donna Symanczyk, (Henry Fujimuro), Annette Symanczyk (Donald Bryan), and Sean Symanczyk (Tina Symanczyk). She is also deeply missed by her grandchildren, A.J. Hill and Cyrus Fujimuro. Her husband, David Symanczyk, predeceased her.

If friends so desire, they may choose to donate to a charity of their choice, instead of flowers.