Angela Heigham Gillis

Angela was born in the United States on May 28, 1965, near Toms River, New Jersey. At the age of six her family moved to Blue Springs, Missouri and during her high school sophomore year the family relocated to Moberly, Missouri. While growing up Angela had a wide range of interests beyond school, such as babysitting, 4H, and serving as camp counselor. Born into a family of music enthusiasts, including her mother, who was a piano and classroom music teacher, and her brother Tre’ who earned a BM in vocal performance, Angela began piano in elementary school and voice and French horn in junior high school. In her high school senior year, Angela was voted Homecoming Queen owing to her natural beauty, but more critically because she was such a genuine person. Always hardworking and thinking of others, in addition to working in various hardware stores while going to high school and university (Moberly: Coast to Coast, St. Louis: Essen, Columbia: Payless Cashways and Central Hardware), she volunteered at the Truman Medical Center East.

Angela began her teaching career in Atlanta, Missouri (band, choral, and general music) and then relocated with husband Glen to Lawton, Oklahoma to become a powerhouse at Hugh Bish Elementary. In 2000 she was awarded “Champion for Children” from the Lawton Public Schools. For five years, Angela also taught music appreciation night classes at Cameron University. She continued her teaching career in Canada with the Saskatoon Public Schools at Marion M. Graham Collegiate (in 2003) and later at several elementary schools: Caroline Robins, Alvin Buckwold, Holliston, Howard Coad, and most recently at Ernest Lindner. Over a span of twenty years, she also taught elementary music education classroom instruments courses in the Department of Music at the University of Saskatchewan.

Angela earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (1988) at Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas, and a Master of Music in Music Education (1994) at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Angela was certified to teach in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Saskatchewan. Angela continued to learn and to improve as a teacher and was certified in Kodaly I and Orff I levels. She was a stalwart in professional organizations in the USA and in Canada making a difference in educational learning.

Angela always strove to provide creative opportunities for her students and orchestrated innovative and collaborative performances and displays at all the schools in which she taught. She was determined that every child in her class experience joy in music making. She was a passionate advocate for the child-centered, diverse, and multi-cultural process as developed by German composer and music educator Carl Orff (1895-1982). Her ongoing energy and dedication to her students and colleagues, particularly the Saskatchewan Orff Chapter, have been an inspiration and treasured gift.

Angela was known to many as a loving mother and wife, a caring, giving, and a curious person, a talented artist, human rights advocate, progressive thinker, recycler, green thumb, organizer, multi-tasker, decorator, fervent reader of fiction, avid card player, exerciser, favourite aunt, dog lover, as well as a great cook and baker. She was always so full of life with an infectious, positive attitude admired by those who knew her.

Predeceased by her father, the Reverend Llewellyn M. Heigham Jr., Angela will be lovingly remembered by Glen, her husband of nearly 30 years, and daughter Nicole, as well as Angela’s mother Ella Jean Heigham, sister Juanita Heigham (Yuki Kunisada), nephew Jace, brother Tre’ Heigham (Missy) and their children Owen and Emily, Glen’s mother Thelma Gillis, sister Margaret (Raymond Scheller), nieces Pamela (Kyle Fletcher), Jody (Mahdi Raghfar), nephew Brent (Lisa Stevenson), brother Richard Gillis (Joan), nieces Jennifer, Michelle and nephew, Jonathan.

True to her nature of giving to others, Angela became an organ donor (Saskatchewan Tissue and Organ Donor Registry), resulting in three recipients benefiting from her gift of life. The family would like to thank the medical and support teams at RUH for their compassion, guidance, and exceptional care given to her and her family.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations may be made to the Saskatchewan Chapter of Carl Orff Canada to assist Saskatchewan teachers wishing to pursue Orff level courses. Angela has been a strong force in working to bring Orff certification to our province and in this way her legacy will live on in the students and teachers she has inspired. Donations may be made by cheque to “Music for Children: Carl Orff Canada – Saskatchewan Chapter” and mailed to 29 Murphy Crescent, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7J 2T5 or by e-transfer to [email protected]

A Celebration of Life Service for Angela is planned for the spring. Announcements will be forthcoming. Arrangements entrusted to Mandi Wasylkowski