Isabel Alice Heddinger

Isabel is survived by her immediate family Carla, Shirley, Don and Roseleen, grandchildren Jacob, Lucas, Harrison, Fawn (Danny) Matthew, Jonah, MacKenzy; great grandchildren Brina (Kelsey), Jorjia, Brolin, Jorurnie (Rayne), Bailey (Jordyn) and Sailor. Isabel is predeceased by her granddaughter Kristy (2019).

Isabel was born in an Ukrainian settlement in Myrnam, Alberta on April 13, 1929. Her parents, William and Yadwiga Kotyshyn, were one of the first Ukrainian settlers farming near the Village of Myrnam. Myrnam means “May Peace Reign Amongst Us” in Ukrainian. William was a prominent farmer and businessman in the area and a member of the Ukrainian Pioneers’ Association of Alberta.

Isabel went to school in Myrnam and was taught by her oldest sister Mildred who was a teacher at the Myrnam School. Isabel and her sister Veronia ventured to Calgary, Alberta to find work in their late teens. She worked at Model Dairies for several years making ice cream and selling it over the counter to customers. It was at Model Dairies she met her husband Carl Heddinger and they were married in 1950. They started their marriage living in Calgary, then moved to Olds, Alberta to operate a gas station. The business was struggling so they packed their bags and moved back to Calgary where Carl started to work as a carpenter. They purchased their first home in the community of Thorncliffe with a house down payment that Carl would pour all the concrete front steps on the new houses been built along Thorneycroft Drive. Isabel lived in their first house until she was placed at Bethany Care Centre approximately 3 years ago. Isabel wore many hats in her lifetime as mother, wife, bookkeeper, janitor, Real Estate Agent, and anything else to keep the lights on.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at a visitation held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 2:00 PM.