I’m sorry to say that my dear mother, Delores Appell, passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023. She died peacefully while holding my hand and surrounded by family members.
She was born July 20, 1934, on the kitchen table of the family farm near Burdett, Alberta; the second child of Henry and Julia Louise Emard. She was raised with three other siblings, her older brother Vernie, and younger twins, Duane, and Diane. She is survived by her younger sister, Diane.
My mom was the devoted wife of Gordon Appell, who passed away two years ago. It was a marriage that lasted 67 years. She had 5 children, from oldest to youngest, Nancy McCrea (Husband Dennis), Daniel Appell (partner Dema Maksod), Diane Zingeler (husband Allan), Shelley Bennett (husband Larry) and Darla Quinn (husband Bill). She was the soul of our family that now includes 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. All of us will miss her generosity, her open heart, her gentle guidance, her patience, and her courageous resolve.
My sisters and their children often praised the help mom gave them while raising their children. It was a gift of love that never wavered. She was always accepting and free of judgement. She loved the babies especially, but at whatever stage and through every difficulty associated with raising children, mom was there to help.
My mom was also a devoted Christian and was comforted by the lessons Christ taught about unconditional love, the healing power of forgiveness and the binding strength of faith. May she rest in peace; or rather, as was her final wish, may she be dancing in the arms of her husband.
We are planning a Celebration of her Life on Thursday, June 22, 2023, between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Thorncliffe Greenview Community Centre (5600 Centre St. N, Calgary). Lunch will be served.
Please, in lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Canadian Mental Health Association at cmha.ca to support individuals in your community who are challenged by mental health issues.
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