Friday, March 21, 2025

By Lethbridge Herald Obituaries on March 21, 2025.

LAWLOR, Gary

GARY GREGORY LAWLOR 1951 – 2025 Dad passed away after a short illness on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, Alberta at the age of 73.
My dad, Gary, moved to Lethbridge in 1972, with three friends, from Nelson-Miramichi, New Brunswick to work on the rigs during the oil boom. But this was not to be. In July, 1973 he married Margaret Cook and they welcomed their son Patrick in July 1977. Dad worked for many years as a cement finisher with Tollestrup Construction and then with his own company, Lawlor Contracting. Finally, his time came to work on the rigs, and he worked for several years as Supervisor of Maintenance for Club Industrial in Fort McMurray, retiring at the age of 70. Dad took after his father, who was a very skilled carpenter, and liked to worked with wood as well. He produced some very nice pieces of furniture.
Gary is survived by his son Patrick William (Kelly); granddaughter Audrey; brother Mark (Janet) Lawlor of Hartland N.B.; sister Margaret Mary (Edward) Daley of Fredericton, N.B., and several nieces and nephews, and friends. He is survived by special friend Bonnie Thiessen and her family, and several of their friends.
Gary was the youngest of a large family and was predeceased by his parents Mark and Mary (Ronan) Lawlor; sisters Wilma Colford, Norma Somers, Monica Hong, and Elenor Larson, and by brothers Tom Lawlor, John Lawlor, and Leo Lawlor.
Cremation has been entrusted to Martin Brothers Funeral Chapels.
Interment will be in the family plot in New Brunswick.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

MCMAHON, Dawn

McMAHON DAWN ROBINSON McMAHON passed away in her sleep March 13th 2025 in Magrath, Alberta at age 95. Born in Provo, Utah August 2, 1929 to Rondo and Allie Robinson, she grew up in Magrath, and came back in 1990 to live the last 35 years in her hometown. She was the oldest of six siblings who she loved deeply. Dawn graduated from BYU and returned to Southern Alberta to teach school and eventually made her way to Calgary where she taught and became a Vice-principal. She loved music, played trumpet in a dance band, loved to dance, and it was dancing where she met her future husband Garry whom she loved and cherished for 62 years. After their marriage, Garry and Dawn returned to BYU, then moved to Concord and later Upland, California where they raised their two sons Ronn and Jamie. In California Dawn’s home was always a destination for visiting family and friends. Always the hostess, she would take everyone who came sight seeing in San Francisco and later after moving to Southern California to Disneyland and other exciting spots. Dawn was a skilled decorator and her home was always warm and welcoming and filled with unique and beautiful items. After a short stint in Vancouver BC, she and Garry returned to Magrath to work side by side building InLine Ovals. Dawn’s sense of style and work ethic were invaluable, and she and Garry enjoyed traveling all over the USA representing InLine Ovals at trade shows. Dawn thought everyone should have a collection, and she had beautiful collections of Kaleidoscopes, ornate perfume bottles, buttons, thimbles, pens and pencils, flamingos, and all kinds of chocolate. Most importantly she collected friends. She had a unique gift to reach out to others, and she developed deep and lasting relationships with people wherever she lived. She was named “Dawnie” by her oldest grandchild which she loved and soon all her grandchildren, neighbors and friends knew her as Dawnie. She had a gift to make everyone feel special, especially children. It was great when Dawnie secretly told you that you were her favorite. She made everyone feel important and loved. Dawn was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and served in just about every calling over decades of church service. She always went above and beyond in all church callings and had a gift to minister to and care for individuals. Together Garry and Dawn served missions to the Bishop’s Storehouse and later to the Addiction Recovery Program. They loved this opportunity to serve together and developed many lifelong friendships. Dawn is survived by her husband: Garry Moore McMahon, sons: Ronald McMahon (Lisa Dabalos), James (Kristy) McMahon, Grandchildren: Rachel (Kyle) Long, Erica (Josue) Arredondo, Samuel McMahon, Timothy (Savannah) McMahon, Megan (Kyle) Rippstein, Amanda McMahon, Great-grandchildren: Peter Arredondo, Elena Long, Emma Arredondo, Siblings: Ross Robinson, Diana Godfrey, Marion Wilde, Phyllis Nelson, Norman Robinson, Sister-in-law: Eleanor McMahon and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and loved ones. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday March 29 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Garden Place Chapel, Magrath (170 N Center St.) Friends may meet the family from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment to follow in the Magrath Cemetery, Magrath, AB.
To send a condolence or to view the funeral service please visit http://www.legacyfuneralhome.ca

HERBST, Vimla

VIMLA HERBST 1943 – 2025 Vimla Herbst, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2025, at St. Michael’s Palliative Care in Lethbridge, AB. Vimla’s warmth, kindness, and devotion to her family and friends will be deeply missed. A service in her memory will be held at Joyful House of Prayer (336 13 St N #334, Lethbridge, AB) at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 5, 2025. To send condolences, please visit http://www.generationsfh.ca

OVIATT, Jack

OVIATT JACK OVIATT, beloved husband of Karen Oviatt, passed away on Tuesday March 18th, 2025 at the age of 87 years.
A Service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday March 22nd 2025 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, NORTH STAKE CENTER, 560 Highlands Blvd West, Lethbridge.
Friends are welcome to meet with the family from 1:00 to 1:45pm at the church prior to the Service.
To send a condolence, please visit http://www.salmonandsons.ca

BECK, Colleen

COLLEEN ROSE BECK 1980 – 2025 Mrs. Colleen Rose Beck of Coalhurst, beloved wife of Mr. Norman Beck and loving mother to Alexis Rose Beck, passed away suddenly at Chinook Regional Hospital on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the age of 45 years.
A Celebration of Colleen’s Life will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, March 21, 2025, at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPELS, 610 – 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

ABELA, Linda

LINDA ABELA 1945 – 2025 Linda Abela, beloved wife of the late Phil Abela, passed away in Taber on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the age of 79 years.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at the Royal Canadian Legion, 5205 48 Avenue, Taber on Saturday, March 22, 2025 between 1:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. A brief program will begin at 2:00 P.M. Condolences may be forwarded by visiting our website at http://www.southlandfuneral.com.
Linda grew up in Wallsend Upon Tyne in the Northeast of England. She was the second youngest of eight Clemitson children. At the age of nineteen, she married her sweetheart Phil and had two children, Graham (Angeline) and Chris (Morgan). They immigrated as a family to Cambridge, Ontario and then settled in Taber in 1977. Linda worked several jobs during her time in Taber but loved most, her time as the secretary and occasional librarian at Barnwell School.
Linda was the happiest around family and enjoyed her grandchildren the most. Brennan, Kaden, Abigail, Evan, and Gavin will truly miss their Nana.
Linda and Phil were fortunate to travel the world and after Phil’s death six years ago, Linda was still able to travel with close friends, cousins and nieces.
Linda loved playing card games and bridge was her favorite. The family can’t tell you the number of hours that she played bridge, either sitting at the kitchen table or later playing contract bridge in Lethbridge. Her competitiveness only trumped by the friendships made over the years.
Linda passed after a serious cancer diagnosis that took everyone by surprise, especially her. She was surrounded by family and friends as she left this world to be with Phil, her beloved husband of fifty four years. Her fight was short but fierce and we shall miss her spunk, laughter, and hugs.
Linda’s family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Roth and the nurses Carla, Jackie and Jamie for their support in the final days and to the health care aids that allowed their mother to pass peacefully at home.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Linda’s name may be made directly to the Taber Food Bank, 5512 – 48 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1S4.
Arrangements in care of Southland Funeral Chapel, Taber. Telephone: (403) 223-8778.

GSCHAID, Ronald “Ron”

RONALD “RON” FRANK GSCHAID 1944 – 2025 Mr. Ronald “Ron” Frank Gschaid of Lethbridge County, passed away with his loving wife Kathy and son Rod by his side on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at the age of 80 years.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta.
A private family Graveside Service will be held.
Visit http://www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.

MEINZER, Friedrich “Fred”

MEINZER FRIEDRICH “FRED” MEINZER, passed away peacefully at the Brentwood Nursing Home in Calgary on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at the age of 75 years.
A Celebration of Fred’s Life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME – 2825 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. with Pat Siedlecki officiating. The service will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Fred’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

WOJTOWICZ, Martha

WOJTOWICZ 1932 – 2025 MRS. MARTHA WOJTOWICZ, of Lethbridge, beloved mother, passed away peacefully at Edith Cavell Care Centre, on Monday, March 17, 2025 at the age of 92 years.
Martha was born on December 2, 1932, to George and Elizabeth Gaetz in Turin, Alberta on a homestead farm. On June 9, 1956, she married the love of her life, Edward Wojtowicz, and they were blessed with three children: Denise (Tony), David (Victor) and Larry (Gina). Edward and Martha raised their family in Picture Butte, Alberta. She was an active member of the St. Catherine’s Parish C.W.L. and Secretary Treasurer for St. Catherine’s School. Afterwards, they moved to Lethbridge to enjoy their retirement years together.
Martha was very creative and enjoyed various hobbies such as rock painting. Her creativity and enthusiasm extended to decorating and dressing up for Halloween. She had a thirst for knowledge. As such, she was an avid reader and did extensive genealogy research in the ancestry of her family. She was active on social media and enjoyed staying connected with nieces, nephews, and friends. She and her husband, Edward, enjoyed gardening. Another favourite pastime she shared with her husband was solving crossword puzzles together. When the weekend New York Times puzzle came out, the page containing the puzzle was a fixture on the kitchen table until it was solved! Martha’s favourite summers were spent beachcombing on Galiano Island, where the family had a cottage.
Martha is survived by her children, grandchildren: Jennifer, Justin (Jocelyn), and Monica (Anthony); great-grandchildren: Tristan, Jaelyn, Janae, and Logan; brother Joe Gaetz; and sisters-in-law Helen (George) Dolbak, and Charlotte Wojtowicz; as well as many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Edward; her parents George and Elizabeth Gaetz; four brothers: George, Andy, Peter, Tony; and five sisters: Mary, Barbara, Helen, Kay and Lena.
A Prayer Vigil will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. with Deacon Jim Manzara officiating.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 – 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. with Father Kevin Tumback celebrating. The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Martha’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
Following the Funeral Mass, Martha will be laid to rest in Mountain View Cemetery.

To send a condolence, please visit http://www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com