RED CROW, Elizabeth
Posted: March 4th, 2021
RED CROW
ELIZABETH ” LIZ” RED CROW, “Aimmoniisohkomii” (Otter Calling) beloved wife of the late Frederick Red Crow of the Blood Reserve passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital, on Friday February 26, 2021 at the age of 84 years.
She is lovingly remembered by her children, Godfrey (Velma), Dolly (Horace) Day Chief, Joanne, Bruce and Anna (Dexter) Day Chief, Tara, Cody and Joni (Shane) Sweet Grass, Laura (Ross Jr.) Black Water, adopted daughter Tina (Joe) Klepic, children of Lena (James-deceased) Russell, grandson Craig Day Chief and eldest niece Mary Ruth McDougall and nephew Gilbert (Velma) Eagle Bear; in-laws Teresa Mistaken Chief, Ada Red Crow, Karen Hooper, Sharon (Darryl) Beddome, Stella (Peter) Chief Calf, Rosie McHugh, Clarence Red Crow, Teresa, Gilbert (Emelda) and Norbert (Cecilia) Black Water and Phyllis Eagle Bear;14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
Elizabeth had many cherished adopted children and grandchildren, too numerous to mention. You are all an important part of her life.
Along with her husband Fred, Liz was predeceased by her daughter Lucille, infant son James and grandson Godfrey Jace; parents Jim and Anna White Man Left, in-laws Jim and Rosie Red Crow, mother-in-law Ada and Sam Kadonaga and sisters Mabel (Howard) Beebe, Julia (Albert) White Man Left and Irene (George) Many Bears; brothers Philip, Burton, Steve (Elsie), Lawrence Mistaken Chief and an infant brother; as well as in-laws Emily Three Suns, Willie, Jimmy (Cathy) and Johnny Red Crow, Levi, Andy and Clarence Black Water.
Liz was born on July 23, 1936 in Cardston, AB to Anna and Jim White Man Left. At the age of 16 she met Fred, the love of her life, and together they started their family and began a busy life of ranching on the Blood Reserve near St. Mary’s Reservoir.
In 1980, their son Bruce was in an unfortunate rodeo accident at the High School National Finals in Yakima Washington and since then, she cared for him and never left his side.
Liz and Fred enjoyed supporting their children and grandchildren, travelling to rodeos alongside their rodeo friends. It came as no surprise that she was honoured with a dedicated “Rodeo Mom Award” at a Mother’s Day Rodeo. Liz loved supporting her grandsons at the Indian National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and she herself loved to ride throughout her life, right up until her passing.
Her grandchildren introduced the new love of hockey and basketball to their grams, who became their number one fan and the loudest in the stands. Her favourite team was the Calgary Flames. She knew all the players names and knew when and where they got traded!
Liz was employed as a custodian with many entities including Kainai Industries, Ft Macleod Auxiliary and St. Mary’s High School.
At the age of 50, she decided to finish her education through distance learning. Her essays were hilarious, providing us all with a good laugh and she was proud to pass her exams with 90 per cent.
Liz earned her Home Support Aide Certificate through AB Vocational College (now Bow Valley College). She worked with Blood Tribe Family & Community Support Services, retiring at age 65. Liz loved her clients and felt her calling was to care for the disabled and elders. In her own words, explaining that her work ethic was learned from her parents, she said “My parents taught me how to work hard, and when I went to school I picked up a lot of things from the nuns. They taught me many skills that I use today”. Liz filled her workplace with her infectious laugh, good nature and happiness and left a void when she punched her clock for the last time.
Liz was very strong-willed, determined, had a great sense of humor and was completely devoted to her family and pets. She was a devout catholic, attended Lac St. Anne pilgrimage annually and prayed her rosary daily. Liz was loved and adored by so many people and will be dearly missed.
Thank you to personal nurse and grandson Craig Day Chief for his many years of dedication to Bruce and Liz’s health and well-being as well as to Cardston Health Centre and Auxiliary staff, CRH Staff, Blood Tribe Emergency Services and Blood Tribe Department of Health for their compassionate care. Her family apologizes to anyone they may have missed.
A Private Family Service will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2021 at 5:00 PM.
A Public Wake / Visitation will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance will be limited to 20 guests at a time. Kindly RSVP your attendance to Cornerstone at 403-381-7777 or care@cornerstonefh.ca Facemasks are mandatory and will be available upon entry.
The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 5, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. Both the Family Service on Thursday and Funeral Service on Friday will be live streamed and may be accessed via Elizabeth’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
Elizabeth will be laid to rest in St. Catherine’s Cemetery.
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com