EDNA DEERING

EDNA DEERING August 3, 1944 ~ January 16, 2023
It is with heavy hearts the family of Edna Olinda Deering announce her passing on Monday, January 16, 2023, at the age of 78 years. Edna leaves to cherish her memory the love of her life, her husband of almost sixty years, Barry Deering and their only daughter, Tobi (Deering) Kemp, her biggest fan. Edna is also survived by her sister, Vivian (Ron) Grover; sisters-in-law, Bonnie Holt of Edmonton, AB., and Susan Deering of Kamloops, BC, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, George and Martha Sulz and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Herbert and Melba Deering as well as siblings, Doreen Bohnet, Leonard Sulz and Bill Sulz.
Edna was born in Trochu, AB., on August 3, 1944, where she lived with her family until they relocated to Medicine Hat when she was 8 years old. Edna attended Riverside School, Alexandra Junior High School and Medicine Hat High School where she graduated in 1962. Shortly after graduation, Edna started her banking career which would span 37 years. She worked for the Bank of Montreal in both Medicine Hat and briefly in Calgary before finishing her career with Scotiabank upon her retirement in 1999. Edna’s career as a friendly, customer-oriented bank teller experienced a 14 year hiatus from 1977 1991, when Edna took on what she viewed as her most loved and most important job, being a full-time Mom to Tobi.
Sport was an important part of Edna’s life, having played fastball from the ages of 12 30 with the Medicine Hat Elkettes, before turning in her baseball mitt for a coach’s clipboard at age 30. She coached the Moose Angels for a number of years and then Tobi’s girls’ softball team, also the Angels, before changing her role again to avid fan of the Toronto Blue Jays. At about the same time she put down the softball, Edna picked up a golf club. She enjoyed golfing with friends and family during summer camping excursions as well as with her golfing girls during her retirement. Edna was also an avid flower and vegetable gardener who enjoyed the challenge of figuring out where and how her vegetables would grow best and designing colorful floral displays in her yard. When indoors, Edna could generally be found enjoying a good book.
Edna was a woman of music and faith, and those passions combined in her 39 year career as the choir director at Riverside Presbyterian Church. She was deeply involved in her church community as a Sunday School teacher and member of the Worship Committee, Board of Managers, and the “Church Mice.” Edna ultimately ended her church service career at St. John’s Presbyterian where she served as a Church Elder from 2013 2020, when she stepped back due to health constraints.
Edna was beloved by family and friends alike and will be affectionately remembered for her warm smile, her listening ear and her selfless gift of thinking of others before herself. Those wishing to celebrate Edna’s life and bid her a fond farewell are invited to join the family at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 504 – 2 Street S.E., Medicine Hat on Friday, January 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Jeff Lackie officiating. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com) In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to be directed to St. John’s Presbyterian Church or the Alberta Lung Association. Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral
Chapel Crematorium &
Reception Facility
901 – 13th Street S.W.
Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4
Phone 403-527-6455
www.cooksouthland.com
“Locally owned & directed”