Mrs. Emma Frances Kollar

Emma Frances Kollar of Calgary, AB, beloved wife of the late Fredrick Kollar, passed away at the Dulcina Hospice on Monday, August 21, 2017 at the age of 86 years. Emma leaves to cherish her memory three children, Elizabeth Perrin, David (Lesley) Kollar and Douglas Kollar. She also leaves two granddaughters, Kelsey (Ryan) McElligott and their sons Braxton and Hunter and Jessica (Jacob) Brisson and their daughter Jayden; Lesley's children Amanda Pepper and Jason Moody and his sons Liam and Lennox; as well as Fred's sister Helen (Lyle) Henkelman and her family.

Emma was the only child of Frank and Minna Pilz. She married Fred Kollar in 1953 and they were wed for 12 years until his passing in 1965. Emma faced her situation of raising three young children with strength and resiliency. She enrolled in business school so that she could acquire skills that would enable her to get a job and care for her family. Her mother cared for the children and her father did the yard work so she could go to school. She held a few jobs and then got a job working as an accounts clerk at St. Francis High School where her sons still attended school. She remained there until her retirement.

Emma was a true Calgarian having spent her entire life in the city. "Calgary has everything - mountains, foothills and prairie - why live anywhere else?" She lived over forty years in the house on Rosewood Road and her backyard was her haven. She watched the birds and tended her garden and manicured flowerbeds. She sat on her chair under her apple trees and "thanked God for what she had".

Emma's children brought her joy and were a source of pride. She told her family physician who was visiting her in the hospital when she was starting to embark on her final journey that she could go now. She raised her children, watched them become successful and settled, and knew that they would look after each other.

A Celebration of Emma’s Life will be held at FOSTER’S GARDEN CHAPEL, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to the charity of your choice. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website www.fostersgardenchapel.ca.