Ivy Mae Down

Ivy Mae Down passed away peacefully at the Foothills Medical Centre on Monday, September 30, 2013 at the age of 89 years.

Ivy is lovingly remembered by her son, Ken Down; daughter, Laura Bettcher (Rod); grandsons, Graison Swaan, Joel Swaan (Sherie), Justin Bettcher (Leah), Jordan Bettcher (Celia), Caleb Bettcher (Leisha), and Kenny Bettcher. She was the proud great grandmother of four: Lilly, Keiran, and Forrest (Justin and Leah) and Paisley (Caleb and Leisha). The day before she passed away she had received the exciting news from Joel and Sherie that she was to be a great grandma again. She is also lovingly remembered by her brother, Keith Thornton (Anne), and three sisters, Linda Wallace (Verne), Fern Cook and Iris Johnstone. In addition, she was aunt to many nieces and nephews. Ivy was pre-deceased by her parents, John and Eleanor Thornton; her husband, Leonard (1973); son, Fred (1979) and daughter, Carol (1981), as well as four of her brothers: Claude, Joe, and Phil Thornton and Jerry Norndon. Born in Sedalia, Alberta on April 28, 1924 but officially registered for April 24, 1924, Ivy was a child of the depression and knew some difficult times, including leaving school at the age of 14 to help out with supporting her large and closely knit family. Her family became a social hub in their community and they were always available to help others. Ivy moved to Calgary in 1950, where she met Leonard Down. They married on November 8, 1952. Ivy cared for her brother, Phil’s three children for a period of time after the passing of his wife, Clara, in 1955. Leonard and Ivy adopted their first daughter, Carol, in 1956. They had two children, Laura (1958) and Fred (1959) as well as fostering many children before completing their family with the adoption of Ken in 1963. Ivy began working for the Calgary Family Service Bureau in 1970. She loved caring for seniors and their homes and became very attached to her clients during her years with the agency. During the early 1980’s, she was employed by Beddington Books, where she enjoyed meeting and talking to her many customers. In her spare time she loved reading, knitting, rug hooking and embroidery and could always be found with more than one project on the go. She especially loved her six grandsons, whom she affectionately called ‘my boys’. After a fall in December, 2011 her health declined, necessitating several hospital admissions during the following year and, finally a move in November, 2012 from the Aspen Lodge in Calgary to Tudor Manor in Okotoks. She will be remembered by many for her hospitality, kind and loving ways, warm smile and strength and resilience in hardship.

Funeral Services will be celebrated at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Friday, October 4, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. with Dan Levson and Mark Rousseau of the Church at Calgary officiating. Interment to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial