Monica Elizabeth Gonzy, beloved mother of Jerry Tymensen and sister of Shirley Cashen, Sheila Newinger and Allan Gonzy slipped away peacefully on Friday, December 16, 2022, at the Raymond Health Centre, at the age of 69 years.

Monica (Mon) was born in Lethbridge on August 01, 1953, the second daughter and fourth child of Louis and Jeanne Gonzy. Her birthplace, St Michael’s hospital would later play a significant role in her life. Monica married just out of High School and she and Wilf welcomed a son Jerald Tymensen on December 15, 1971. When Jerry was a little older, Mon decided to go back to school. She applied to the Lethbridge Community College in the Faculty of Nursing and graduated as a Registered Nurse in October, class of ‘81. She began her nursing career immediately, first at St. Michael’s, then, when it closed, at Lethbridge Municipal Hospital. Monica was a kind, compassionate and very professional nurse. She loved her job and would regale us with both happy and sad stories sometimes punctuated with the gallows humour that softened the often-heartbreaking cases she and her colleagues dealt with daily. She made many friends and was beloved to all her patients. Mon’s nursing career was cut short due to health issues and she had to leave nursing. Not ready for retirement yet, she parlayed her medical and people skills into another vocation and became a massage therapist, her clients benefitting once again from her compassion and healing touch. Eventually, plagued by both mental and physical health issues, Mon decided to kiss the work world goodbye and embrace retirement.

Her home in Stirling was her paradise. She enjoyed the solitude of her garden and huge backyard and spent many hours planting, pruning & nurturing her shrubs, trees and beautiful flowers, many of which started as “clippings” from family, friends and neighbours. They became homes for owls, hawks, lots of birds, butterflies and other critters. She loved to restore and paint or repair items that were broken and many a statue in her “serenity garden” got a facelift. Monica was also a very talented pianist, another of her creative arts. She was able to play most any tune by ear and she found great comfort in her music.

Monica is survived by her son Jerry, her furry, best friend Ajax, 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, sisters Shirley and Sheila, brother Allan and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Louis and Jeanne Gonzy and brothers Gerald and Lou Gonzy.

A private family inurnment of Monica’s ashes into her parents’ gravesite will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Canadian Mental Health Association, 426 6 St S, Lethbridge, AB T1J 2C9.