MOOK, Chester

MOOK It is with great sadness and gentle peace that we, the family of CHESTER JOHN MOOK of Lethbridge, AB, announce his peaceful passing at Cedar Creek Adaptacare on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at the age of 79 years.
Chet will be deeply missed by his beloved wife of 56 years Sharon Mook (née Risdon), by his daughter Tiffany (Neil) Fraser; grandchildren Andrew and Quinn Fraser, by his daughter Camille (Tony) Rose; and granddaughters Claire and Antonia Rose. Chet was the eldest of four siblings. He is survived by his sisters Patricia and Dahlia and brothers-in-law Don (Angela) Risdon, Daniel Risdon. Chet will be lovingly remembered as a cool uncle by numerous nieces and nephews.
Chet was predeceased by his parents Emma and John Mook, as well as father and mother-in- law George and Marie Antoinette Risdon; his brother Charles Mook, sister-in- law Marie Bell, and brother-in-law Darwin Risdon.
Chet was born on January 20, 1944 in Medicine Hat, AB, He spent his early years on the family farm and in 1949, the family moved to Medicine Hat where he lived for the remainder of his childhood. After school, Chet took a job in Calgary to work in an optical dispensary where he met and fell in love with Sharon Risdon. The two were married in 1967 and lived first in Banff before work brought them to Lethbridge in 1968. Chet quickly became an enduring and active member of the community.
Chet was involved in numerous business ventures, personal pursuits, and service clubs and organisations within the city. Chet became friends with a wide cross section of the community and enjoyed appearing in plays, singing in musical groups, painting, sculpting, and potting at the Bowman Arts Centre or LCC. Chet was an ardent lover of music and served as chair of the Lethbridge Symphony. Chet also studied and played several instruments with varying degrees of proficiency including accordion, guitar, harmonica, violin, and piano.
Chet worked tirelessly for many charities and was on the provincial board of the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta/NWT division. A highlight of his life was when he was chosen as a “Rotary Young Man of Distinction” and was sent on a tour of India with other young men from throughout the province. Chet formed lasting bonds of friendship through his involvement in service clubs and his creative endeavours.
Chet was also actively involved in the business community and had many businesses throughout his lifetime. He was instrumental in establishing a professional association for hearing aid practitioners in Alberta, serving as President of the association. He established three hearing aid practices with offices in Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Calgary.
In his retirement, Chet continued to serve his community and study his interests. He and Sharon were always travellers but retirement allowed them to see most of Europe and a good part of South America. Chet was always a man of curiosity, energy, vision, wit and good humour who, despite a lifetime of compromised health, lived life to the fullest.
Chet will be remembered by those privileged to know him for his passionate and insightful discussions and hilarious antics and zingers. Right up to the end, his days were filled with plans for more travel and elaborate dinner parties with his family and friends. Chet loved life and all the energy, love, and laughter that he spread, was returned to him. We lost a good one when we lost Chet Mook. There will never be another like him.
On behalf of our family, we would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for the many friends and family that supported Chet throughout his lifetime and who have been there for the family in our days of loss. We would like to thank the innumerable hospital staff, caregivers, nurses and doctors who graced Chet’s life, especially in the last years of his life. He had immense respect and appreciation for the hard work and dedication of all health care workers.
A celebration of Chester’s Life will be held at the SANDMAN SIGNATURE LETHBRIDGE LODGE, 320 Scenic Drive S, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Glenda Wert officiating. The Celebration of Life will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Chester’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (cancer.ca), Lethbridge & District Humane Society (lethbridgehumanesociety.com) or Lethbridge Symphony (lethbridgesymphony.org)
To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com