Deanna Helen Palmer

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved mother, Deanna Palmer on April 19, 2023, at 82 years of age. At the time of her passing, mom was surrounded by her family and so much love. Mom was born in Russell Manitoba on November 26, 1940 to William and Vina Genaille and was the second oldest of ten children. She married the love of her life, Wray (predeceased in 2010) in 1958 and they celebrated 52 years of marriage.

Throughout her life our mom had endless passion for her faith, family and community. She had an incredibly kind, loving and generous heart. She was filled with compassion and everyone she met was touched by her spirit. Once in her heart you were family forever. She cherished family and greeted each of us with a warm hug, and a place at her table.

Her strong faith guided her in her many roles, as a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. Her deep faith carried her through life's difficult and challenging times.

Our mom cherished family time and was always at the center of family gatherings. Her oven roasted ribs were famous with her children, grands and great grands. People gravitated to her and her shining spirit. She was a committed member of the Catholic Women’s League, a hockey mom and fundraiser, team bowler, billet mom and avid sports fan. She always led the charge at Sports Trivia, first to grab the paper’s sports section, and was continually on top of the family hockey playoff draw. Not to mention, mom was not afraid to throw the Yahtzee dance at you and she still holds the highest recorded score in the family.

Everyone was interesting to our mom and worthy of her time and kindness. Her ease of conversation never failed to awe those around her and draw them close. Her kindness extended to those beyond her family, as she cared for strangers, friends and family alike. From a person needing a ride she had never met at a gas station in Blue River and taking them to Edmonton, to offering shelter in their trailer to people camping beside them in a tent to protect them from the downpour. She cared for all and we love her so much for modeling kindness and love.

She will be lovingly remembered and live on in the lives of her family. Children; Garry and Kathy, Sandra and Dwayne, Shelley, Barb, Ron and Rhonda, and Michelle and Rob. Grandchildren; Chris and Lindsey, Brad and Kristin, Derrick, Raelene and Paul, Avery, Maddy, Chase and Daine. Great-grandchildren; Cohen, Grayson, Penelope, Annabel, Marceline, Wyatt, Adrienne, Lily and Lena. As well as her siblings, nieces, nephews, life-time friends and adopted family.

We are eternally grateful, for the kind, and generous care of the staff at Cross Cancer, the Palliative care unit at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital, the Palliative Home Care Team (Pod B), the St. Albert Save On Foods pharmacy and all the Doctors and the many medical professionals that supported our mom and her family.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St Albert Catholic Church 7-St Vital Avenue on Saturday May 20, 2023 at 12:00 pm with Father Gordon Cook OMI officiating. Memorial donations can be made directly to the Cross Cancer Institute or Grey Nuns Community Hospital Palliative Care Unit.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memoriesfuneral.com for the Palmer family.