It is with deep, deep sadness and broken hearts that we share that on August 1st, 2018, God took the hand of our precious, precious mom, grandma, and great grandma, EILEEN MILDRED KEELER and she went to be with her loved ones in heaven.  It is an extreme privilege and honour to know that we were chosen to be part of the life of such a special person who loved so many unconditionally and asked so little in return, and who worked so so hard for her children.  It is also with extreme gratefulness, and the only way that we can possibly be without her for a while, is knowing that Grandma will now be at rest in God’s hands with no more struggling, no more being afraid, no more sadness and no more worries, and has been happily greeted and reunited with her family, pets, and friends she so loved that were waiting for her in heaven.  In June and July 2018, Grandma worked very hard and made an amazing recovery from pneumonia in the Lethbridge hospital.  Grandma returned home where she said she wanted to be, but was tired, and after struggling at home for a little more than a week, asked daughter Margaret to just sit with her as she peacefully took God’s hand and was reunited with her best friend and little love, Trixie dog; her dear son Fred Keeler; husband Roy Chandler Keeler; her parents Fredrick and Margaret Sage; brothers Harvey (Jean) Sage and Norman Sage; and sister Birdene (Johnny) McConkney; parents-in-law William and Helen Keeler and their sons Alfred Keeler, David (Mary) Keeler, Art Keeler, Ernie Keeler, and Eric and Gordon Keeler who went to heaven as babies; and her dear Lord to whom she prayed nightly, who had prepared a beautiful, well-deserved mansion for our special, special mom, grandma, and great grandma.   

Grandma was born and grew up in Cabri, Saskatchewan with her loving parents, brothers and sister and was fondly known by her father and brother Norman as “Toots.”  Grandma always wanted to be a nurse from the time she had her appendix out as a teenager and, upon graduation moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta where she completed her training to be a nurse.  She then worked in the Medicine Hat hospital where she said she cared for a “tall, dark, good -looking man” with a sore leg whom she later married. They lived, worked and raised their children on the Keeler farm north of Bow Island until moving to Bow Island when their children were young.  Her husband Roy passed away in 1965 after a brief battle with cancer.  Grandma went to work at the Pleasant View Lodge in Bow Island where she worked for 25 years before a grand retirement party in 1990 at almost 65 years of age.  In the year 2000, Grandma moved to Lethbridge where she resided with her daughter Margaret, and was a trooper keeping pace with her for the past 18 years.

Grandma most of all loved her family and the animals she had over the years.  Grandma was happiest when visiting with family or getting calls and texts from them.  She treasured each and every card, picture, and present whether given, sent or text.  Family events, from visiting to births to traveling together, were the greatest highlights of grandma’s life.  She was honored that family and friends joined her to celebrate her 80th and 90th birthdays.  Each and every one of her immediate six children, 14 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren, including two still to be born), as well as her extended family had a special place in her heart and, although she was sometimes saddened by not seeing them as much as she would have liked, never had a bad word to say about any of her family.  Grandma loved knitting clothes, doll clothes and afghans for her family; her plants; watching families in the park behind her home; reading Danielle Steele; in earlier years listening to Vince Gill, and doing whatever she could to help her families out.  Grandma loved to camp with her children at Elkwater as they were growing up, and later loved camping trips with her children and their families.  Grandma liked to travel, travelling mostly with family through Europe, across Canada and the US including many visits to Disneyland in California, and Disney World, cruising to Alaska and the Caribbean; and a couple of trips to Hawaii including a trip of a lifetime, cruising the islands.  Other than family times, perhaps one of the greatest highlights of grandma’s life was doing the Queen Walk with the Queen in Calgary in 1989 when one of Grandma’s granddaughters won an essay contest to meet the Queen.  During the last 15 years, Grandma travelled to Victoria many, many times to share time with family there, and in the last seven years enjoyed spending time at the condo she shared with her daughter Margaret in Sidney B.C., attending events with her family there,  watching the sailboats on the ocean, and going to Buchart Gardens to view her favorite flower, the roses.  During the past two years, grandma spent a great deal of time in Calgary helping babysit her newest grandchild, as well as well as travelling to visit family and friends in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in either her new Red Equinox, her first and only vehicle, or her little RV, both of which she was so proud of.

Left to remember and cherish memories of Grandma are her immediate and extended children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren: 

Norman Keeler (Darlene) daughters Nicole (Jeff Paulson) and Melanie; Gordon Keeler (Darla), son Chris (Tanya) children Heather and Zenon, son Joel (Lisa) children Raine and Daxon, daughter Tania (Jeff) Anderson and new baby on the way, and Darla’s daughter Bailee; Margaret Jenkins, daughter Brandi and son Callum and his father Jeff Hunter, daughter Lynsi (Scott Peake) daughter Sawyer and new baby girl on the way; Clifford (Wendy) Keeler, son Derek (Jodi) children Raya and Jaden; daughter Marci (Jared) Sweet, children Barrett and Charlee; daughter-in-law Valerie Keeler, son Jeff and son Alex and his mother Megan Keeler; son Dean (Nicole) children Sidney and Layne; Diann Lorinczy (Brent Reid); son Rylee Lorinczy (Amanda) children Jace and Kai; son Chance Lorinczy (Jen) adopted daughter Destiny; son Tyrel Lorinczy (Jayde) daughter Marisa; Steven Reid (Heidi) daughters Sienna and Kennedy; and Brenden Reid.

Grandma also leaves others special to her: sisters-in-law Jean Keeler and Daphne Keeler; niece Maxine (Lief) Jepson; Barb Maciever and Tom; June and Max at the condo; her Home Care workers; and many other family and friends who were privileged to have known Grandma over the years.  Although Grandma never thought so, Grandma was indeed a very unique and special person.  She was a very selfless person who held a lot of love in her heart for each and every member of her family, her animals and friends, and asked for so very little. 

Always in our hearts Grandma,

Until we are together again.

We will always love you.

A Funeral Service will be held at ST. AUGUSTINE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 411 – 11 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. with Canon James Robinson officiating.

Eileen will be laid to rest with her beloved husband Roy in Hillside Cemetery, Medicine Hat.

In memory of Grandma, grandma would be pleased donations be made to the Canadian Cancer Foundation, #200, 325 Manning Road N.E., Calgary, AB, T2E 2P5.

 

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

• Date : 2018-08-01
• Location : Lethbridge, Alberta