Obituary for Jeanette Martha Showalter (Wilson)
SHOWALTER, Jeanette Martha
If you want the true picture of a woman, see her though the eyes of her children, for that is her true legacy.
With heavy hearts filled with gratitude, our family lost a beautiful, kind and generous soul. Jeanette Showalter, loving wife of Rollin Showalter of Calgary passed away peacefully on June 5, 2021 at the age of 89. The only child of Gerald and Martha (Hersikorn) Wilson, Jeanette was a premature baby born on November 9, 1931 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. When they brought her home from the hospital she was 2 lbs 2 oz. and her head fit in a tea cup.
In 1942 the family moved to Toronto as Jeanette's father had enlisted and would soon be shipping out to England. After the war the family moved to the community of Rosscarrock in Calgary where Jeanette attended the West Calgary School. Jeanette's father had an automobile repair shop on Bow Trail, and her mother worked at the local grocery store. As a teenager, Rollin delivered newspapers to these two businesses and in 1950 that is how Jeanette met her future husband. They married in August 1953 and have five exceptional children, John (Debbie), Deborah Brandell (Bruce), Linda Flury, David (Mary), and Michael (Jennifer), 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Jeanette was an inspiration to all who had the honour and privilege to know her. Her generosity of spirit will be remembered as she spent many hours volunteering at schools, at the Sarcee Auxiliary Seniors Home, and at St. Matthews United Church. Jeanette was a member of St. Matthews for 71 years and a member of the St. Matthews Harmony Bells women's church group. Jeanette also volunteered for many years in the church Thrift Shop, was a Girl Guide Lieutenant, and a member of the Calgary Square Dance Association. In December 1964 she travelled with her husband Rollin and a troupe of square dancers that hailed from different cities in western Canada on Air Canada's inaugural non-stop flight to Jamaica. The group demonstrated square dancing in Jamaica and Nassau.
Jeanette was a homemaker and will lovingly be remembered by her family and friends for her sense of humour, her devotion to her family and her church. Always there for help, support and love, she possessed incredible strength. Jeanette loved the outdoors and spent many happy hours gardening, golfing, fishing, hiking, and camping. She shooed away many a bear with just a tea towel. Her last major camping trip in 2010 was a rafting trip down the South Nahanni River with family and friends. Jeanette was excellent at herding her 5 children like cats, keeping them well fed, in clean clothes, sewing, knitting and crocheting (including doll clothes), and having them all packed and ready to go camping each weekend so all Dad had to do was load the car. Jeanette was an excellent baker and loved baking cookies for her family. Many memories of her will be around food and baking and it will always be a comfort to know when baking green icing cookies or brownies that she is there helping.
“To love someone is to learn the song in their heart and sing to them when they have forgotten it.” Janice Ian.
No formal service will be held. Donations may be made in memory of Jeanette Showalter to The Brenda Strafford Foundation - specify to: Wentworth Manor, The Court - Trafalgar Project or to Alzheimer Society of Alberta.
Every day that passes you will be in our hearts.
Your loving family.
If you want the true picture of a woman, see her though the eyes of her children, for that is her true legacy.
With heavy hearts filled with gratitude, our family lost a beautiful, kind and generous soul. Jeanette Showalter, loving wife of Rollin Showalter of Calgary passed away peacefully on June 5, 2021 at the age of 89. The only child of Gerald and Martha (Hersikorn) Wilson, Jeanette was a premature baby born on November 9, 1931 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. When they brought her home from the hospital she was 2 lbs 2 oz. and her head fit in a tea cup.
In 1942 the family moved to Toronto as Jeanette's father had enlisted and would soon be shipping out to England. After the war the family moved to the community of Rosscarrock in Calgary where Jeanette attended the West Calgary School. Jeanette's father had an automobile repair shop on Bow Trail, and her mother worked at the local grocery store. As a teenager, Rollin delivered newspapers to these two businesses and in 1950 that is how Jeanette met her future husband. They married in August 1953 and have five exceptional children, John (Debbie), Deborah Brandell (Bruce), Linda Flury, David (Mary), and Michael (Jennifer), 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Jeanette was an inspiration to all who had the honour and privilege to know her. Her generosity of spirit will be remembered as she spent many hours volunteering at schools, at the Sarcee Auxiliary Seniors Home, and at St. Matthews United Church. Jeanette was a member of St. Matthews for 71 years and a member of the St. Matthews Harmony Bells women's church group. Jeanette also volunteered for many years in the church Thrift Shop, was a Girl Guide Lieutenant, and a member of the Calgary Square Dance Association. In December 1964 she travelled with her husband Rollin and a troupe of square dancers that hailed from different cities in western Canada on Air Canada's inaugural non-stop flight to Jamaica. The group demonstrated square dancing in Jamaica and Nassau.
Jeanette was a homemaker and will lovingly be remembered by her family and friends for her sense of humour, her devotion to her family and her church. Always there for help, support and love, she possessed incredible strength. Jeanette loved the outdoors and spent many happy hours gardening, golfing, fishing, hiking, and camping. She shooed away many a bear with just a tea towel. Her last major camping trip in 2010 was a rafting trip down the South Nahanni River with family and friends. Jeanette was excellent at herding her 5 children like cats, keeping them well fed, in clean clothes, sewing, knitting and crocheting (including doll clothes), and having them all packed and ready to go camping each weekend so all Dad had to do was load the car. Jeanette was an excellent baker and loved baking cookies for her family. Many memories of her will be around food and baking and it will always be a comfort to know when baking green icing cookies or brownies that she is there helping.
“To love someone is to learn the song in their heart and sing to them when they have forgotten it.” Janice Ian.
No formal service will be held. Donations may be made in memory of Jeanette Showalter to The Brenda Strafford Foundation - specify to: Wentworth Manor, The Court - Trafalgar Project or to Alzheimer Society of Alberta.
Every day that passes you will be in our hearts.
Your loving family.