Mrs. Vivian Ellen Kinniburgh

Vivian Kinniburgh passed away peacefully with her children at her side on January 31, 2015 at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary. Vivian was a strong and vibrant wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who loved to laugh, knit, cook, shop, win at bingo and spend time with her large circle of family and friends.

Vivian Ellen was born on May 13, 1929 to Bill and Myrtle Skelton in Drumheller. She was the youngest of four children and had many fond memories of her adventures with her siblings growing up in the Drum. She often talked about skating on the river in the wintertime, and how she wanted to be a figure skater when she grew up. It was working in her dad’s Taber restaurant in her late teens that she was courted by her husband-to-be, David Richard Kinniburgh (Dirk). Vivian and Dirk married in Taber and raised their three children (David, Ann and Derrick) in the Calgary neighbourhood of Inglewood. Vivian was never one to shy away from a challenge, including helping Dirk with his pool table repair business and cooking enough turnip puff and potato salad for a crowd of Kinniburghs. Active and adventurous, Vivian travelled with Dirk to Portugal, Hawaii, Ireland, Cuba, Disneyland and Florida, and loved her road trips to Taber, Fairmont and Vernon just as much.

Vivian is lovingly remembered by her son David (Lynne) and daughter Ann (Ernie), her sister Fay, her five grandchildren Carmen (Mike), David (Tracey), Bryce (Wendy), Ryan and Troy as well as her five great-grandchildren Eden, Luke, Isabel, Molly and DJ. She was predeceased by her son Derrick, husband Dirk and siblings Howard and Kathleen.

Her family would like to thank Dr Yolanda Kao and the staff at both the Edgemont Retirement Residence and the Foothills Hospital for their care and compassion.

A Celebration of Vivian’s Life will be held for her family and friends at the Tuscany Club (212 Tuscany Way NW, Calgary) from 1:30–3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2015. Those who wish to make a memorial donation are invited to contribute to the Calgary Health Trust-Foothills Medical Centre Unit 46. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.fostersgardenchapel.net.