Gloria Shirley Onstad

May 7, 1933 – March 21, 2023

Gloria passed away on March 21, 2023 after a short illness, just short of her 90th birthday.

She was born to Mabel Rosella (East) and Joseph Robert “Bob” Pelletier in Edmonton, Alberta on May 7, 1933. Her brother Jack followed in 1935, and the family lived in Edmonton during the Depression era. World War 2 broke out when Gloria was in Grade 1, and her father enlisted immediately in the Royal Canadian Medical Corp. His regiment was stationed in southern England by 1941, waiting for deployment to the front. During a blackout, he was hit by an army vehicle while returning to base and he died from his injuries. This was devastating for the family; Gloria’s mother had to take work as a farm cook and Gloria was sent to live with an aunt and uncle at Maymont, SK. It was there that she first took piano lessons and found her lifelong passion for music.

Later, her mother remarried and the family was reunited and lived with a beloved stepfather, George Walker on a farm near Kindersley. Gloria graduated from high school there, active in the drama club and choir. Her parents saved to buy her a piano to play at home, and spent happy years there until tragically her stepfather passed away from cancer during her graduation year.

She completed the secretarial course at the Robertson Business School in Saskatoon, and worked in Kindersley with CIBC and then Sask Power. Next came a move to Calgary where while working for an oil company, she met Jack Onstad on a blind date! They married in 1959 and following the birth of daughter Barbara, moved to Weyburn. Two sons, Bryan and James completed the family.

Gloria devoted her energies to raising her children, and with Jack, joined the Young Fellows club, which offered friendship, fun and community service. Once her children were in school, she pursued her artistic talents including drawing, painting and calligraphy, which she later instructed and did commissioned calligraphy works. She worked part-time at an accounting firm during tax seasons, and as a deputy returning officer for elections. Active in the arts, she joined the Weyburn Arts Council and the Triple C council - a proud achievement was the establishment of the Cugnet Performing Arts Centre, after years of work to gain community and government support. She also was a volunteer tutor with the Literacy Council, and organist for the Junior A Red Wings hockey club for many years. She sang with local choirs Octavius and Variations, and with the Regina Philharmonic.

Gloria followed current events closely, and was always ready for a chat and a laugh. She loved following her children and grandchildren in their activities, whether in education, travel, sports or the arts. Many happy summers were spent at the family cottage at White Bear Lake, and later at a friend’s cabin at Katepwa. Genealogy was a passion that involved some of her many travel experiences, and reading and gardening were important pastimes. She and Jack were longtime Roughrider season ticket holders, but baseball was her favourite, whether it was the Blue Jays, or at a local ball park where in recent years she could be found in her scooter enjoying the games.

Gloria is predeceased by her parents, her stepfather and her brother, as well as her husband, Jack Onstad (2009).

Left to miss her are her children: Barb (Rod Cowen) of New Westminster, BC; Bryan (Susan) of Surrey, BC; and Jim (Delinda) of Weyburn, SK; grandchildren: Meagan (Becky) of Regina, SK, Mike (Ricki) of Weyburn, SK, Roxanne of Surrey, BC; Brendan of Toronto, ON; Courtney (Dan) of Port Moody, BC; and one great-grandchild, Lane; sisters-in-law: Donna Gang, Cindy Onstad and Greta Onstad, cousins, nephews, nieces and good friends.

A celebration of life took place on April 1, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Fletcher Funeral Chapel, Weyburn and was followed by a reception at the Weyburn Branch, Royal Canadian Legion. A private family interment also took place at Hillcrest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gloria may be made to the Weyburn Arts Council, the Weyburn Beavers Baseball Club, or the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 47.