Gladys Elizabeth Lavenne

Gladys was born in Milk River, AB, the fourth child of Elizabeth Pal and the ninth child of Louis Horgus. Her upbringing on the family farm where life was often demanding helped shape her strong and fiercely independent spirit. From an early age, Gladys loved animals — something reflected in her childhood photos, often surrounded by farm dogs and rabbits. At age 16, her independent nature led her to Calgary to work as a bank teller and live with elder sister Ethel.

While home one Christmas eve, Gladys met Ormand Lavenne, Milk River’s then United Church minister. They were married in July 1962. Ormand called her Glady, a name she cherished. Their loving partnership lasted nearly 60 years, until Ormand’s passing in 2020.

Together, they built a life rooted in family and faith. Daughter Shelley was born in Lethbridge and son Brad in Edmonton. The couple cherished summer holidays to visit family and friends across Alberta, BC and Ontario. Gladys is remembered for her strength, kindness, love of animals, her joy in dancing with Ormand at weddings and family gatherings and her homemade pies, which her young grandchildren declared, “the best blueberry pie in the world.”

As a minister’s spouse, Gladys was deeply involved in every community they served. Their ministry journey took them from Milk River to Edmonton then Richmond, BC, Coquitlam and finally, Esquimalt United in Victoria. Gladys was actively involved in United Church Women, fundraising, establishing a preschool, outreach and many other aspects of church life.

She also worked as a bank teller and bookkeeper, but she loved most her work with the United Church’s Gorge View Society. Initially joining the society as a director in 1989, she later became its finance manager. For more than 20 years, she worked with board members, church leaders and city officials to expand affordable housing in Victoria.

In 1991, Gladys attended the Vancouver Island Caged Bird Society’s fall sale and came home with nine finches, much to Ormand’s chagrin. Soon she adopted more finches and started raising canaries, blue and green ring necks, other small parrots and an African Grey named François. She and Ormand were active in the Bird Society, helped organize bird shows and participated in the annual Saanich Fair

In 2016, Gladys reluctantly left Victoria with Ormand for Calgary to be closer to family. Gladys took long daily walks with her dog Neeko around Coventry Hills community lake. In 2022, she moved into seniors’ living and continued walking as long as feasible.

Gladys was predeceased by Ormand; sisters Ethel, Hilda and Lillian; brothers James (Jim), Lorne, Bill, George and Robert. She is remembered by her children Shelley (Joel), and Brad (Nancy); and her grandchildren Eric (Gabrielle), Naomi (Sean), Joy (Eamon), Zac (Sarah), and Jessa; brother Andrew and sister-in-law Ludmilla; and nieces and nephews.

Our family is grateful to the care teams at St. Teresa Place and Holy Cross, AHS case managers, Nancy Smythe and Victoria Slany. Memorial gifts can be made to Gorge View Society https://gorgeviewsociety.ca/ or a United Church ministry of your choice.

You are welcome to help us celebrate Gladys on Friday, May 22, 2026, 1:30 pm MT at Summitview United Church, Calgary. The service will also be live-streamed. https://youtube.com/live/jBwgkYDaoSw?feature=share