Heather was born January 17, 1936 in Calgary, the eldest child of Fred and Dolores (Del) Bateman, followed by siblings Thomas Wilfred and Anita Rose. Both she and husband Robert (deceased) were proud to be second generation Calgarians.
She attended Glenberry, McDougall, Haultian/Connaught and Western Canada High School, where she met the love of her life Robert “Bob” Dexter Mayhew Vance. After graduating from Western in June, 1954 she worked for J.H Ashdown Hardware Co., Toronto/Dominion Bank and Sun Oil Co. She and Bob were married June 16, 1956 and together raised 3 wonderful children; Karen Janette (1957), Michael Edward (1958) and David Kendall (1960). After 10 years as a stay-at-home mom, Heather was employed by Pacific Petroleums in January, 1967 and stayed on after the takeover by Petro-Canada until July, 1992 when she decided it was time to leave and took “early retirement”. Bob and Heather had moved to Bragg Creek in 1980 to enjoy “the good life” and remained there until Bob’s passing in June, 2000.
In November, 2000, Heather returned to Calgary and became involved with Calgary Meals On Wheels, Petro-Canada Alumni Association, Desk and Derrick Club of Calgary, Calgary Herald Retirees (Bob’s employer), Native Calgarian Society, Gas Gang Grads, Western White Hatters Camping Club, and dabbling in family Genealogy all of which she enjoyed very much.
Heather is survived by her son Michael (Audrey) and grand-daughters Sarah Smolkin (Tyler), Laura and Hannah of Calgary, and son-in-law Ben Chromik and grand-daughters Taylor, Reanne and Sydney of Cochrane, AB, and her youngest son David. Heather was extremely proud of all 6 of her grand-daughters. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Vallory Vance and Carole Bateman, brothers-in-law Lorne (Debbie) Vance of Calgary, and Fred (Violette) Vance and family of Beaverlodge, AB.
Heather was predeceased by her husband Bob on June 1, 2000, her father Fred, her step-father Henry (Bud) Deitsch, her mother Del on October 6, 2000, her daughter Karen Chromik on July 6, 2001, her brother Thomas “Tom” on February 19, 2005, and her sister Anita Cairns (nee Bateman) October 23, 2011.
No funeral by request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta-NWT Division, 200-325 Manning Rd. N.E., Calgary, AB. T2E 2P5 or www.cancer.ca/donate.
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