Obituary of Ken Oram

November 19, 1935 – Montreal, Quebec

August 5, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

On the morning of Monday, August 5, 2024, at the age of 88 years, Ken Oram, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed peacefully from this life.  His stepson Steve Burford, his daughter Karen Foster, and his grandson Duane Laurendeau were by his bedside when he quietly passed. 

In his younger years, Ken was an avid hockey player, coach and referee. Ken worked at the Bell Telephone Company for his entire career. He started working for "The Bell" when he was just sixteen years old and then progressed up to management before retiring in his early fifties.

In his retirement, he continued his work on building the family cabin on Lake Champlain in Vermont, just south of Montreal. He took up flying lessons and earned his Private Pilot's Licence.  He carried out extensive work on his family genealogy, even searching through dusty microfiche records in England with the help of his cousin, Ray Hobbs. He also was a competitive bridge player and did well in local competitions.

Ken’s first wife was Barbara Stevens. They had two daughters, Karen and Marilyn Oram. Sadly, Marilyn was killed in a car accident when she was just fourteen years old.  Ken entered into a second marriage with Barbara Winterson, who had two sons, Norman and Stephen Burford.   Both Norman and Barbara predeceased Ken.  Ken married a third and final time to Charlene Chapdelaine, who had four adult daughters, all of whom Ken became very fond of, Dianne, Wendy, Julie, Tammy, and their respective families.   Sadly, Charlene also predeceased Ken in 2022.

Ken grew up with four sisters, Pat, Margie (daughter, Colleen), Winnie, and Shirley who is the last surviving among them.  Ken was very close to Shirley's two sons, Barry and Rodney McKinley.  Ken’s grandchildren include Duane Laurendeau and his daughter Haley, Steve’s sons, Justin, Joel, and Zachary, and Norman’s daughter Janna. He had a special bond with his stepson Steve, his wife Nancy, and their three sons. As Steve lives in Sherwood Park, he often drove down to see Ken and otherwise, he would make daily calls to him. They would share funny Instagram clips and investment tips with each other. His daughter Karen visited Ken almost every day in his final years. Her Dad loved her very much and he loved to tell her stories from his life, such as the story about how once his overcoat stood frozen beside the front door after a long walk in a snowstorm. Karen, her husband, Jim, and her son Duane, miss Ken very much.  We all do.

Our family extends its deepest gratitude to all the incredible nursing staff at AgeCare Glenmore, Eagleridge floor and, especially, Pinky and Sandra.  Ken felt cared for and valued.

A Celebration Of Ken's Life will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Ken’s family here.

In living memory of Ken Oram, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.