Elsa Blake

May 2, 2020 Calgary, Alberta

It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Elsa Blake. Elsa passed away peacefully with her beloved son by her side holding her hand on Saturday, May 2, 2020.

Elsa was born in Woodside, Jamaica where she spent much of her young life. Woodside remained one of her most favourite places where, as a young child, and the eldest of six, she was able to run wild and play with her brothers and sisters. She went on to St. Andrews School for Girls in Kingston where she spent some of her happiest times as a boarding student. She was a top class student and was very proud of making the First Eleven, as a goalkeeper, on her school’s field hockey team. Elsa was also a skilled tennis player and it remained one of her favourite sports - a sport she passed onto and played with her own 2 children.

Endlessly curious she left Jamaica in her early twenties and immigrated to Canada, first to Toronto and then Montreal where she and her husband Roy lived while he attended medical school at McGill. Venturing west with 2 young children in tow the family settled in Calgary - the river running through the city being a great draw for her. Elsa loved Calgary and was proud of the home she built for her family. She participated in the community, worked for a time with the government and her great facility with numbers allowed her to be an independent business woman. Elsa loved travel and was able to travel with her children and husband to a variety of the world’s great destinations.

An avid reader, her imagination and curiosity were fulfilled in this manner as well. She loved her church, Varsity Acres Presbyterian, and was an active member there. Elsa loved tinkering in her garden, she loved the pets she had throughout her life including her childhood pet hen.

Elsa spent the last couple years of her life at Bow-Crest Long Term Care Home where she was a favourite of the nurses and staff there. They will no doubt miss her warmth, sweetness and radiant smile. A very special thanks to the caring staff at Bow-Crest.

Elsa loved volunteering and charity work. The Mustard Seed was one of her favourite to be involved in.

Elsa was one of the kindest, most caring, compassionate, empathetic, forgiving people one could hope to encounter. She was an absolutely amazing mother. If kindness were a person it would be Elsa. She negotiated life with an inherent and unerring decency and grace.

Elsa had a multitude of friends and family members all of whom she loved and touched deeply. She is survived by her husband Roy and son Jason. Elsa was predeceased by her daughter Shauna, her mother and father, hers sisters Cecily and Florence, and brothers Keith and Orville. She is survived by her brother Neville.

Due to current events no funeral service is scheduled at this time but a “Celebration of Life” will be held at a later date where we can celebrate this beautiful soul. For those wishing to make donations in Elsa’s memory choose a charity of your choice. She had a particular affinity for The Mustard Seed and for children’s and animal organizations.

Elsa will be greatly missed.

May the angels safely keep her memory.