Liz Spanier

Liz was born in Tarutino, Bessarabia, Romania (a German area of settlement at the time). During WWII, a very young Liz and her family fled advancing enemy lines through Poland, eventually making it to Germany and settling in Rothenburg Ob der Tauber in Bavaria, where Liz began her school years.

In 1953, Liz, her parents and two surviving brothers (one had died as a toddler in Germany) immigrated to Canada through a sponsorship by a family in Ontario to work on their farm. Two years later the family moved to Calgary.

Liz met Ralph Spanier a few years later and they were married in 1961. Although Liz enjoyed working, and was starting a career as a geological draftsperson, after she married, Liz dedicated her life to her family, numerous volunteer organizations and the home she and Ralph designed and built in 1970 on their acreage between Calgary and Cochrane.

Liz was a lifelong member of the Bearspaw Glendale Women’s Institute, a founding member of the Bearspaw Community Association, where she was involved in many plays, fundraisers and fashion shows. She was a lover of all animals, an avid gardener, traveller, hiker and excelled at sewing, watercolour painting, pottery and all forms of crafts. The most important thing to Liz though was her family. She was a loving and dedicated wife, mother and grandmother.

Liz was predeceased by her husband Ralph in 2019 and lived in the home they built in Bearspaw until moving to a senior’s apartment in Calgary in 2024.

Liz is survived by her son Gord (Femeena); daughter Lorie Gibson (Brian); grandchildren Taylor Spanier, Jake Spanier and Rehman Shivji.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider supporting The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada (https://alzheimer.ca/en) or the Cochrane Humane Society (www.cochranehumane.ca).

The family would like to thank the staff at The Edward and the emergency room staff and volunteers at the Foothills Medical Centre.

A Celebration of Liz’s Life will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. For those unable to attend the service, they may do so virtually using the link below the service information.