ALSTON, Jody

ALSTON Jody Louise Alston passed away in Lethbridge, Alberta on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at the age of 65.
Jody was born May 3, 1958 in Cardston, Alberta to parents Douglas Alston and Janet Turner. She was the oldest of 6 children. Jody is survived by siblings Drew (Wendi), Jacqueline, Donna (Trent) and Jonathan (Melissa), sisters-in-law Sandy and Jen Gwynn, and many nieces and nephews. Jody was predeceased by her parents, her brother Jim and her nephews Jared, Kyle and Isaac.
Jody lived in Cardston, Glenwood, Logan, Pullman, Lethbridge and Seoul, South Korea.
Jody had a close relationship with her father. She commented that her favorite memory of her young life in Cardston was walking hand-in-hand to school with her Dad, who would drop her off at Cardston Elementary on his way to Cardston High School where he was the Principal.
Jody graduated from Agnes Davidson, Gilbert Paterson, Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, Lethbridge Community College, the University of Lethbridge and the University of Southern Queensland. She also attended the University of Alberta.
Jody’s life-long friends include: Marilyn Sawada, Linda Lee, Joyce Wong, Lorraine Phillips, Delcia Jubber, Alasdair Mackintosh and Gail, Gary and Jackie Knight. Other friends with whom she spent many hours up at her cabin are Lillian North Peigan, Don Head and Maureen Quinton Scott.
Jody was an avid music lover and concert-goer. She was especially devoted to Canadian acts like April Wine, Bryan Adams, BTO, Leonard Cohen and Trooper. Although Bruce Springsteen is from New Jersey, she saw “the Boss” and the E-Street Band in concert numerous times and on three continents. One of her goals was to attend a Springsteen concert with each of her siblings. Three of the 5 did have this momentous experience with her. We expect that she’ll attend in spirit a Springsteen concert with Donna this November.
Jody was a world traveler. She loved that she was a Canadian and always loved to come home to Alberta at the end of one of her journeys. She exemplified throughout her life the “Canadian” traits of decency, kindness, thoughtfulness, tolerance, peace-making and inclusion.
Jody loved the outdoors, especially her cabin and “Land” up on Lee’s Creek near Chief Mountain. She also had fond memories of family vacations at Blue Bay on Flathead Lake.
Jody’s career was as a social worker and a teacher. She worked for McMan Youth Services, Napi Lodge, the John Howard Society, the Pagoda Language Institute and the Oedae Language Academy in Seoul, and for the last 20 years she followed her father’s legacy at Lethbridge College, working as an ESL instructor there. Her students came from all parts of the world and spoke a myriad of languages. Her patient and accepting attitude made her a success and a much-beloved figure in the lives of her students that had come to our country for a new beginning. Her students could not have had a better person to welcome them in their time of vulnerability, anxiety and excitement while starting a new life here among us in Canada.
Jody was a friend to all. She was as pure and good a soul that has ever lived. She loved her Turner and Alston families. She was a loving, kind, thoughtful daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, granddaughter, cousin, teacher and friend. Words cannot express how much she will be missed.
A celebration of Jody’s life will be held Friday, August 25th at 7:00 pm in the Garden Court at Lethbridge College. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in memory of her beloved nephew Jared.
To send a condolence, please visit www.salmonandsons.ca