Olive Katherine McLeod

After a long illness, Olive McLeod passed away in Calgary, AB at the Foothills Hospital on Thursday, February 11, 2016 at the age of 92 years. She was born on December 6, 1923, in Didsbury, AB, the only child of Wilfred Weber Snyder and Esther Schultz. Olive grew up on a farm west of Didsbury, and moved to Bridgeland in Calgary in the 1940s, where she worked at the Calgary General Hospital. She married Art McLeod in March of 1955; then, they moved to Ontario, settling in Cornwall. There, Art found work constructing the St. Lawrence Seaway Project. In 1961, Art, Olive and their two young children moved back to Calgary, where they settled for good. Olive was active in both the Renfrew and Winston Heights - Mountview Community Associations. She was also a member of the ladies auxiliary at Renfrew United Church. Her passions included watching hockey, especially the Flames, cooking, baking and gardening. Her pies were well known, and her garden and flowerbeds were the pride of the neighborhood for many years, including this past year. Olive was also fond of animals; she kindly fed birds and squirrels on cold winter days, and helped to spoil a succession of family pets. Her children were her priority, and Olive put their needs before her own. She would do everything possible for them, usually going without herself. Olive always tried to earn a few extra dollars to help the family; she worked at several jobs and/or recycling before it was popular. We are truly grateful for the sacrifices she made on our behalf. Olive was predeceased by her parents and husband of fifty-nine years, Art, in 2014. She is survived by son Don (Toronto) and daughter Joanne (Calgary). Olive was a good wife, mother and friend. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Thanks to Dr. Haggblad and Dr. Burkart, who cared for mom over the years. Special thanks to Unit 81 at the Foothills, where she spent the last three months, so many special people there. Also, thanks to Dr. Leung and Dr. Myles who respected her wishes and the family’s wishes and tried everything to help her. In lieu of flowers, which she loved and because of Olive’s love of animals, please consider adopting or rescuing a dog in her memory, or making a memorial donation directly to the Calgary Humane Society, 4455 - 110 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2C 2T7. A Funeral Service will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 2:00 p.m., with interment to follow at Mountain View Memorial Gardens, 1515 - 100 Street S.E., Calgary. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.