Obituary of Gerda Frieda Taylor

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Monday, March 15, 2004 after a long, brave fight with emphysema and cancer. She is survived by her loving husband and best friend, Don; daughter Sandra Taylor-Tran (Thien Tran) of Calgary; son Brian Taylor (Laura Brucker) of Redwood Meadows and son Glen (Gayle) Taylor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Four much loved grandchildren will carry on her legacy of strength, humor, tenacity and gentleness – Adam Tran of Calgary, Danielle Taylor of Calgary and Will and Allie Taylor of Tulsa, OK. She is also survived by sisters, Karin Bryan (Gordon) of Calgary; Gisela Gnewuch (Gerhard) of Germany and a brother, Rolf (Freidel) Schlunzen of Calgary; in addition to many nieces and nephews. Mom has this special message for her sister Karin (Dear K. Our last yahoo! Thanks for all the coffees at mom’s, the nursing home, second cup and the hospice! Love G) Gerda/Sue/Mom/Oma was born on January 19, 1938 in Kirchmuhl, Germany and came to Canada in 1953 when she was just fifteen years old. She strove to learn English quickly and fluently and attended Henderson’s Secretarial School less than two years after her arrival. Gerda worked for two years and saved money to travel to New Zealand for six months with a friend. This is where she was given the nickname “Sue” and it has stayed with her ever since. Upon returning to Calgary, she met Don Taylor and they married on December 4, 1959. Mom spent the next several years totally committed and dedicated to bearing and raising her three children. Her family was the center of her life; hockey mom, hundsuppe maker, bridge player, horse rider, nanaimo bar baker, coffee drinker, pogo player, bread butterer – no matter what she did, Mom did it with patience, precision and grace. She worked again part-time at Dresser Atlas from 1977 to 1986 and shortly thereafter realized a dream – she got her own horse “Star” and spent many happy times caring for and riding her. During those years she also volunteered at the Calgary Winter Olympics and at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. After being diagnosed with emphysema in 1997, Sue had to give “Star” away and was happy that her friend Lois was able to take her and care for her. Together with Karin, Gerta spent many years caring for her ailing mother – even when she was very ill herself she never missed an opportunity to provide care and comfort to Oma. Sue made thirteen trips to Maui, Hawaii with her beloved Don and cherished every moment of the sand, sun and beach! “I sit astride life like a bad rider on a horse. I only owe it to the horse’s good nature that I am not thrown off at this very moment.” Ludwig Wittengenstein A Celebration of Sue’s Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 3:00 P.M. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Calgary #234, 5149 Country Hills Boulevard N.W. Calgary, AB T3A 5K8 Telephone: (403) 239-2488 or directly to the AgapÚ Hospice, 1302 – 8 Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1B8 Telephone: (403) 282-6588. The family would like to thank Dr. Catherine Heaton who has been her longtime family doctor, all of the nurses and doctors at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the staff/angels at AgapÚ Hospice for their care and love during her last days. In living memory of Gerda Taylor, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 243-8200.