Leona Esther Wurst

Leona Esther Wurst passed away on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at Hillcrest Extendicare in Calgary. She is lovingly remembered by her son David Poulsen (Barb); grandchildren Murray Poulsen (Kim), Amy McNeil and Brad Poulsen (Nicole); as well as, great-grandchildren and surviving sister, Betty. She was predeceased by husband Edward and by sisters Clara, Rose and Eleanor.

Leona was born in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan to parents David and Mary Gerlach and was the middle girl of five sisters. Hers was a life well-lived. Mom (Nanny) experienced The Depression, a world war and a pandemic; beating back a pre-vaccine case of COVID at 98 years of age. When she married her first husband Lawrence (Larry), they and toddler son David lived at Gaspe Lodge, now the famed Deane House in Inglewood in Calgary. Leona loved her family, her life in the food service industry and she had a nearly life-long love affair with all things Calgary. Her passions were the Stampeders (she and Ed were season ticket holders), the Flames, the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Calgary Stampede, the Calgary Herald, the casinos of Calgary and Las Vegas, her neighbourhood (Bridgeland) and her church (St. Matthew Lutheran). She was proud of having managed the coffee shop in the Volkswagen dealership on Macleod Trail and having served as waitress/hostess in several of Calgary’s wonderful hotel-restaurants of yesteryear including the York, the Wales and her all-time favourite—the Westin. And she put her food service skills to good use when producing memorable family dinners that will never be forgotten. Seldom did she actually eat anything at these affairs, preferring to hover over her guests, refilling drinks and plates and seeing to it that every guest was stuffed at meal’s end.

A fighter to the end, Leona was a caring mom and grandma, proud of the accomplishments of family members who will cherish her memory forever.

A Funeral Service will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 66 7 St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 4B7 on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the Family, via the website: www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.

FOSTER'S GARDEN CHAPEL

FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM

Telephone: 403-297-0888

Honoured Provider of Dignity Memorial