Mary Louise Vandersteen

The sweet and gentle spirit of Louise, our beautiful and loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend remains with us since her sudden and unexpected death on April 1, 2015, which came despite exceptional medical intervention by the Intensive Care Unit staff at both the South Health Campus and the Foothills Medical Centre.

Louise was the adored youngest sister of five older brothers: David (Julie), Mark (Joan), Andrew (Paulette), Julian and Paul (Iris), and three older sisters: Elizabeth Jane, Jeannette (Billy) and Barbara.

Louise’s artistic soul and passion for language manifested itself through her evocative poetry, whimsical screen plays and soulful song writing. Louise’s joyful freedom was found in swimming, exploring and relaxing in the mountains, playing games with the family she so loved, and singing and dancing to the blues.

She and her eight siblings grew up in a family home next to George Moss Park in Ogden with parents, Gillian and Michael Kovatch (now both deceased), where she learned how to find peace in the storm and forged the strongest of relationships with her dear siblings. Louise loved children; her gentle and patient desire to help them learn and grow manifested in her ultimate accomplishment, her children with Doug Vandersteen, Carly Hannah and Levi Matthew, to whom she gave herself unconditionally.

Louise is the much beloved aunt of Nigel Morrell (Tracy), Alicia Morrell, Jason Talbot (Pam), Jess (Amanda), Jeannine Moore (Tyrell), Adam Thompson (Vicki), Kaitlyn, Christina Williams (Mike), Kyle (Melissa), Olivia (Cory), Becca (Chris), Cole and Dion. As Louise’s spirit lives on through us, her loving memory will be shared with the next generation: Jazmyne, Zoe, Justice, Zeke, Kiralee, Dominic, and the three babies expected this year.

Her professional acumen will be greatly missed by her colleagues in the Information Technology Department at Alberta Health Services where she worked for the last ten years. Those who met Louise could not help but recognize that they were blessed to be in the company of such a humble, kind, and genuine soul. Louise loved openly, accepted everyone she met for who they were, and was loved by all in return.

Just as the Kovatch family has shared in so many milestones, joys, and celebrations over the years, we will share this difficult good-bye to our beloved Louise in a private gathering.