Obituary of Jean Evelyn Buchanan

August 25, 1926 – Dubuc, Saskatchewan

March 10, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Jean Evelyn Buchanan (nee McAlpine), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the age of 97 years. She was able to pass peacefully at home surrounded by family. Jean was a woman of quiet strength, compassion, and grace. 

Jean was born in Dubuc, SK, on August 25, 1926. She was one of sixteen children who grew up on the family farm. As a daughter in the middle of the clan, she learned to survive. She was tough as nails but had a family bond created by the Dirty Thirties, picking rocks in the fields, playing baseball with her brothers, riding horses to school in the summer, and walking in three feet of snow, uphill both ways, in the winter. Parties were a piano and dancing with your siblings, or a late Saturday night at Round Lake, SK. 

Jean trained as a Nurse at the Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg, MB, in the early 1940s. As a Registered Nurse, she made many lifelong friends when in training. This training came in handy when band-aiding or stitching up Brad, and all the other kids in the neighbourhood.   

Jean and Bill Buchanan met when she was nursing at Deer Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg, MB. The story is it was a blind date, and she wasn’t impressed. Bill didn't give up and obviously his persistence and charm worked; they were married in 1952 and celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary shortly before Bill’s passing in 2020.  

Bill’s RCMP career of 35 years had the family move across several provinces. During Bill's career, Jean was the chief cook and bottle washer, taxi driver to hockey, swimming, and baseball for Brad, dancing and piano for the girls, chief financial officer, disciplinarian (Brad's butt knows the feeling) and peacekeeper, but there was always a life lesson, hug, encouragement, and love. She was the best Mom you could ever have. 

Following Bill's retirement from the RCMP, he and Jean set up Buchanan Security Consultants in Calgary, AB. Here, Jean managed the books and provided her commonsense approach to life and the business. Bill could not have run the business without her. 

She loved to curl; she represented her local club in Manitoba provincials in the 70s and as a senior curler in Alberta. She learned to golf after moving to Calgary, AB, in 1978, and routinely "kicked" Bill's butt, much to his chagrin. She both curled and golfed well into her 90s. 

Jean was passionate about her sports and had a genuine spirit of volunteerism and giving back. She gave her time to multiple charities and always said yes to a friend or association in need. She was the President of the Alberta Ladies Curling Association, President of the Elk Ladies’ Golf Club, and President of the Manitoba Highland Dance Association, all while being a mom first and supportive wife of an RCMP officer. 

Jean was an avid sewer and knitter. Bev and Brenda have fond memories of the matching Easter outfits she made for them each year. One year she made Brad a salmon bell-bottomed leisure suit; he still has nightmares about that one, but it was made with love. Her passions continued through the years; she knit many baby caps that were donated to the NICU in Calgary hospitals. She was a passionate gardener her whole life, a skill learned on the farm. Her garden in Dauphin, MB, won a Horticultural Society Award for best garden. Jean was also a great cook, baker, and canner. Kids from the neighborhood always craved Mom's "peanut butter cookies" and a glass of milk. She could turn Sunday roast leftovers into beef stew, stroganoff, and hot beef sandwiches. Her whole family loved her pickles, relish, and marmalade. And then there was "thin bread"; a tradition learned at the farm from Grandma "Annie". Nothing better than warm thin bread and butter. 

Jean and Bill traveled extensively after retirement, traveling throughout the USA, Hawaii, Scotland, England, and even back to her family hometown in Sweden. 

Jean is survived by her two daughters and their partners, Beverley Needham (Shawn) of Edmonton, AB, and Brenda Buchanan (Steve) of Calgary, AB; her "most awesome" son (who helped write this) and his wife, Brad (Angela) of Kelowna, BC; her grandchildren, Gavin, and Tavis Needham of Edmonton, AB, Christopher Pittman of Calgary, AB, and Kyle, Ryan, and Amy Buchanan of Kelowna, BC.

Jean is also survived by her two brothers and two sisters-in-law, Gerry (Jeanie) of Winnipeg, MB, and Stew (Marian) of Esterhazy, SK; sister Vivian of Winnipeg, MB; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Jean was predeceased by her spouse William Buchanan, parents Dan and Annie (nee Eckberg) McAlpine; brothers, William, Donald, Archie, Lawrence, and Ronald; sisters, Florence, Isabel, Katherine, Lillian, Margaret, Pearl, and Patricia; and her grandson David Needham.  

A Celebration of Jean’s Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB ) on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Graveside Service to follow at Union Cemetery (Erlton St & 32 Ave SW, Calgary, AB).

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. Buchanan’s service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Diabetes Canada, 220, 6223 – 2nd Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 1J5 Telephone: (403) 266-0620, ext. 1112, www.diabetes.ca, or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14^th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Jeans Family here.

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

Click Here to Sign the Video Guest Book and Watch Jean's Celebration of Life