Glenys May Goossens

(May 31, 1928 – August 2, 2024)

The family is very sad to announce the death of Glenys on Friday, August 2, 2024 at the great age of 96 in Calgary, Alberta.

Glenys was the third child of William Edward and Jane Eira Davies, born May 31,1928 on the farm in the Llewellyn District, Bangor, SK. Her older sisters were twins Megan and Eirlys and her younger sister was Nans. Glenys was a first-generation Canadian, as her father was Patagonian Welsh from Puerto Madryn, Argentina and her mother was from Dolgellau, North Wales. She was extremely proud of her Welsh heritage and enjoyed learning about her ancestry. She is survived by her sister Eirlys (late Garnet) Baird of Victoria, her daughter Michèle Henderson (Craig) of Calgary and her son Mark Goossens (Sharon Lyons) of Regina. She is survived by grandchildren Sarah Henderson of Vancouver, Dr. Amanda Henderson of Edmonton, Stephanie Kambeitz (Chris) of Weyburn, Cameron Hanover (Amber) of Regina and Kara Hanover (Collin Germann) of Regina, as well as five great-grandchildren: Chris, Alex and Emily Hanover of Regina and Andy and Abby Kambeitz of Weyburn. She is also survived by nieces Heather Robinson, Gwyneth Sestito and Dilys Baird and nephews Trevor, Cameron and James Baird, and François, Luc and Pierre Leblanc, and their spouses. Glenys was predeceased by her parents, her sister Megan (late Bill) Robinson, and her sister Dr. Nans Davies, her husband Gérard Goossens in 1976, as well as her sisters-in-law Janine and Pauline Goossens and Betsie Leblanc (late René).

Glenys did her schooling at Llewellyn School across from her grandparents’ farm, which was a mile from the family home. Welsh was spoken at home. She did high school by correspondence and in her aunt’s community of Imperial. After high school she took a commercial course and worked in Regina. She was immensely proud of her service in the RCAF as a Radio Operator from 1951 until 1954. She was well suited to military life due to her exceptional punctuality and attention to detail throughout her life. She was stationed in Comox where she met Flight Lieutenant Joseph Gérard Goossens. At the time, married women were not employed by the federal government and Glenys had to resign. Glenys and Gerry were married in 1954 and moved to Nova Scotia where Michèle was born in 1955. Mark followed in Montréal in 1961. They were transferred overseas to RAF North Cotes near Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England where Gerry worked on electronic warfare. They returned to North Bay, and again to Montréal. After Gerry’s death Glenys and Mark moved to Regina in 1976 to be closer to family while Michèle attended Queen’s University in Kingston. Glenys began to work at University of Regina in the Faculty of Education Counselling Office, where she stayed until her retirement in 1993. In 1998 she relocated to Calgary and was a member of the Legion, the Ex-Service Women’s Group, the Calgary Welsh Society, 783 Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force Association, and she was a guide at the Military Museums.

In Calgary, Glenys met Mel Crawford, a veteran, and they enjoyed nine years of companionship together until Mel’s death in 2009. Glenys moved into Manor Village at Garrison Woods in 2012 and then to Trico LivingWell in 2023, where she enjoyed exercise classes and being a member of the choir, among other things. Still very mentally sharp at 96, she was still discussing current world events during her illness. She was a star at Trivia Night, she always remembered everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries, she loved reading about military history and she continued to finish crossword puzzles even while in hospital.

Already a breast cancer survivor, Glenys was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June of 2024 and spent time in Rockyview Hospital and in Chinook Hospice. She was a very kind and caring person, and will be sadly missed by everyone that had the good fortune of knowing her.

A Celebration of Life for Glenys will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 2:00 pm at South Calgary Funeral Centre and Crematorium, 12700 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary, AB, T2J 7E5. Flowers gratefully declined. Those wishing to do so may donate to a charity of their choice. Interment with her sister Nans, who died in March 2024, will take place next summer in Regina.