TUSTIAN Selma

March 2, 1913 — June 20, 2014
Selma Tustian died on June 20, 2014 surrounded by the love of her family and secure in her faith, in her 102nd year. Selma was born on a homestead outside Vulcan, Alberta on March 2, 1913. She was the second of four daughters born to John Raymond Wood and Christina Lundgren Wood. Christina died in the flu epidemic of 1919 but Selma and her sisters were fortunate enough to be loved and supported by their father and step-mother, Florence Darneille Wood. The girls were encouraged to seek education beyond high school, and all did. Selma became a teacher and in 1931 at eighteen years of age, was in charge of a rural school at Dowling Lake near Hanna. In 1935, the Wood family moved to Cowley, Alberta where Selma met Arthur Tustian. By that fall, she was teaching at Yetwood School east of Champion and in her letters home jokingly wished for a broken arm so she could come back to Arthur in Cowley. She soon did and they were married in December, 1935. The Tustian home was filled with music and books, where all were made welcome and lively arguments were valued. Selma was very active in her church, and contributed her musical and teaching abilities all her life. She taught Grade 1 at Cowley and Livingstone Schools, and many students benefitted from her skilled and warm instruction. Her’s was described by one Superintendent as \”being a model of what a Grade 1 classroom should be.\” Following her retirement, she and Arthur enjoyed travelling and family events before his death. Subsequently she moved to Pincher Creek, and spent happy years in her own home, at Crestview Lodge and more recently, Vista Village. Selma was predeceased by her husband Arthur in 1983, sisters Ila in 1968 and Dorothy in 2010, and her son-in-law Max Pharis in 1979. She is survived by her sister, Marie Smyth; three daughters, Barbara Pharis, Patricia McLaren (Bob), and Joyce Tustian (Doug Boyd); as well as 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was greatly loved by her many nieces and nephews. A \”Celebration of Life\” will be held on Monday, June 30th, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 637 Charlotte Street, Pincher Creek, AB. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 757, Pincher Creek, AB. T0K 1W0 or Vista Village, P.O. Box 1510, Pincher Creek, AB. T0K 1W0. To email condolences, please visit www.snodgrassfuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangement entrusted to Snodgrass Funeral Home, Pincher Creek, AB (403) 627-4864