Shirley Houtekamer

SHIRLEY MARGARET HOUTEKAMER (nee Ellis), beloved wife of the late Adrian Houtekamer, of Lethbridge, Alberta passed away peacefully at the Edith Cavell Care Centre Saturday January 25, 2025, at the age of 89 years.

Shirley is survived by her two sons: Terry (Pat) of Lethbridge and Blaine (Michelle) of Nova

Scotia; two grandchildren: Ryan (Melissa) and Jessica (Josh) Bourque; and great-granddaughter

Hazel all also of Nova Scotia

She was predeceased by her husband, Adrian & her parents Harold & Minie.

Shirley was born in Claresholm, Alta. on July 28, 1935. The family lived in Fort Macleod for

several years and then moved to Lethbridge where she spent the majority of her school years &

graduated from high school. She met Adrian & they were married in Lethbridge June 19, 1954.

Shirley succeeded at everything she put her mind to, like learning to swim when the boys were

young so she could swim with them. She excelled at needlework (needlepoint & cross-stitch),

enjoyed playing bridge with friends at Bridge Club, was an avid reader and later in life took up

lapidary & enjoyed creating jewellery & other items from the precious & semi-precious stones

that she cut & polished. She loved travelling & seeing new places & making new friends. She

enjoyed spending time with her family & outings & coffee with her friends. Her attitude in life

was ‘keep calm & carry on’. She approached everything in life, whether good or bad with calm

determination.

Our family would like to thank those who supported Shirley during the last big challenge of her

life: living with Alzheimer’s. A huge thanks to all the nursing, recreation & support staff of Edith

Cavell Care Centre (Maple Court). You gave the best care to our mom & we knew she was

always in safe hands with you. We owe you all an enormous debt of gratitude. Thanks also to

Dr. Irwin Li & Dr. Jeffrey Jamieson at Acute Geriatric Services/Alzheimer’s Assessment Unit in

the Chinook Regional Hospital for their help & support during the early years following her

diagnosis. We greatly appreciated all you did for her & us.

At Shirley’s request, no memorial service will be held. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta & N.W.T

website: www.alzheimer.ca/ab

#40, 1202 - 2nd Ave. So.

Lethbridge, AB T1J 0E3

Phone: 1-866-950-5465 (toll-free)