Nicole Dawn Hunchuk

Nicole was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, on August 14, 1972. During childhood, she lived with her family in many places including Saskatoon, Kitimat, Prince George and Calgary. Nicole spent many summers with both sets of grandparents and her cousins. She enjoyed most times at Finger Lake, B.C. She liked driving the boat to take her Grandma Mark fishing and riding the three-wheelers. An animal lover at heart, she even named all her grandma’s chickens at Finger Lake. Nicole enjoyed playing soccer. She also belonged to Mini Creek Pony Club with her horses Posie, Tripper, Rowdy and Sherman and showed Tennessee walking horses. In 1988, as one of the Tennessee walking horse princesses, Nicole represented the Alberta Walking Horse Association in the Calgary Stampede parade. She became known for her “princess wave”.

She attended Woodman Jr. High School and Henry Wise Wood Sr. High School in Calgary before moving to Vancouver, B.C. to complete a B.Sc. in Dietetics from UBC in 1997. Upon graduation, she worked at the Fanning Center in Calgary developing a program to provide themed family dining experiences for residents. In the spring of 1998 she left Canada for Korea, where she and her dear friend Tara McNeil taught English for several months before absconding to travel in South-East Asia. Nicole finally settled on living in Taiwan for a few years.

In Taiwan, Nicole lived in Kaoshiung and Tainan where she taught English. In both cities she formed deep and enduring friendships. She also spent time exploring the island on her motorcycle, camping with friends, and cementing her status as the queen of creative Halloween costumes. Over the years, and across the world, Nicole’s career developed from teaching English in Korea and Taiwan, to starting her own business in South Africa and, in more recent years, devoting herself to public health with the Canadian Diabetes Association and Alberta Health Services. In all fields she was an educator: whether she was teaching language, health and nutrition, or developing strategies for better health-care communications. She was also a passionate student. In addition to formal classroom study, Nicole devoted time to creative hobbies, such as photography and cooking.

Just before she was diagnosed with ALS, Nicole began dating Robert Blackett. Rob has been by Nicole’s side over the past three years, as her love and companion. Nicole was an easy person to love, as her extensive network of friends all over the world can testify.

Nicole was always open-minded and curious about the world. She traveled extensively, even after her diagnosis with ALS. Over the years she visited Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. She never shied away from an adventure and often wound up in situations ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous, mildly uncomfortable to downright scary, which she would always recount with a smile and a laugh. That laugh. Those who knew Nicole will remember her infectious laugh. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and she liked nothing better than a good bout of silliness.

Nicole is lovingly remembered by her parents Leslie and Doug Hunchuk, her brother Greg, loving friend Robert Blackett, and cats Axl Rose and Leo.

She is also survived and sadly missed by her extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins: Bev and Garth Gray (Carmen and Caroline); Cathie Hunchuk and Randy Passmore (Joel, Robyn and Erin); Sharon and Hugh Nickel (Jessica and Michael); Julie and Randy Simmoneau (Jacqueline and Colin); Cheryl Webster (Rachelle); Denise Mark and Sharon Morgan; Kelly Yasuda (Jesse and Joy); Chris and Cathy Mark (Alex and Eric). She is predeceased by her grandparents George Hunchuk, and Al and Dorothy Mark, uncle Bob Yasuda and cousin Mark Webster.

Nicole’s life is also celebrated by her extensive community of friends in Calgary and around the world who love her and will miss her so very much.

A Celebration of Nicole’s Life will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Friday, August 1, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to the William Watson Lodge Society, Box 30344 Chinook Postal Outlet, 6455 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 2W1, www.williamwatsonlodgesociety.com. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATIORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial