Obituary of Constance (Connie) Marilyn STEBBE

January 13, 1926 – Theodore, Saskatchewan
December 2, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Connie Stebbe of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at the age of 94 years.

Connie was a prairie girl born in the small Saskatchewan town of Theodore on January 13, 1926. Her family soon moved to Beausejour, MB, where her father Gus ran a lumberyard and mother Lena, who was an outstanding cook, ran the household. She had two older siblings, Evelyn and Donald, and a younger brother, Gordon. 

After the Second World War, Connie met, fell in love and married the returning war veteran, George Stebbe. They lived briefly in Winnipeg before George took a position in the paint industry, in Lethbridge, Alberta. Their four children were all born in the 1950’s, Catherine, Marilyn, Shelley and Gregory. Apart from busy mom, Connie’s time in Lethbridge was spent singing at weddings and her church choir. They made many lifelong friends, some of whom eventually joined them in Calgary, where they moved in 1960. 

Like her mother, Lena, Connie was an exceptional cook and pastry chef - her baking was legendary and her roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinners became the standard to which we all aspire. In her working career she was largely focussed on design and decoration, working at Woodward’s and in an unusual move at that time for a woman in her late 40’s, entered the Design Faculty at Mount Royal Collage. Connie moved onto Crown Wallpaper and eventually into the family business of Walls Alive, again specializing in wallpapers. 

In the late ‘70’s and early ‘80’s, Connie and George divided their time between winters in Palm Springs and summers back home. George, love of her life, died in 1982. Connie continued to travel extensively and launched into helping to raise her four grandchildren - Ryan and Rebecca, and Samantha and Michaela. Happily, the cooking and baking continued, often with her grandchildren at her side. 

Connie, the great family peacemaker, always made the very best of every situation. To the very end she remained positive, happy go lucky, grateful for the blessings she had. It was a life well lived, and she left the world a better place than she found it. 

The Alberta Lung Association (www.ab.lung.ca) was Connie’s favourite charity. No flowers please. At some point distant the family will arrange a Celebration of Life. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Connie’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Connie Stebbe, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.