Muriel MILTON

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MILTON: Muriel Josephine (nee Frederickson), June 11, 1931 – December 18, 2014. It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Muriel Milton on December 18, 2014 at the age of 83 years in Calgary, Alberta. Muriel passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Walden Heights Seniors' Community after a lengthy illness. She will be lovingly remembered and missed by her five children and their spouses, Doug and Colleen Milton, Lorraine and David Smith, Sharon and Dan Wirzba, Dave and Bev Milton, Carolyn and Philippe Reicher; eight grandchildren, Ben Milton, Eric (Lisa) Milton, Jamie and Andrew Smith, Steve Wirzba, Sharaya Milton, Jean-Luc and Nastassia Reicher; and two great-grandchildren, Alex and Abby Milton. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Ed, in July 2010. Muriel was born in North Star, Alberta, the youngest in a family of three girls. She grew up in the Peace River region of northern Alberta and married Ed Milton in 1952.  Muriel spent the first 10 years of her married life as a busy homemaker, caring for her growing family -- first in Edmonton and Hagersville, Ontario while Ed attended university, and then in Bolivia.  In 1962 the family settled in Calgary, which became their home for the next 18 years. Muriel's skills and dedication as a mother and homemaker included baking all the family's bread (and other tasty treats), sewing most of her family's clothes, welcoming friends and relatives for meals and overnight visits, and tirelessly driving her children to their many activities. To bolster the household income, Muriel also used her organizational and bookkeeping skills in part-time work as an office assistant and doctor's receptionist. When Ed and Muriel moved to Hamilton so Ed could do post-graduate studies, Muriel became the main breadwinner, working full-time in a doctor's office. Then it was on to Brandon, Manitoba where Muriel worked part-time in Home Care, first as a companion and then as a personal care assistant. Her home and large garden showed her flair for decorating and gardening and Brandon became a favorite vacation destination for her children and grandchildren from Alberta. Muriel's diverse interests also included listening to classical music, singing in the church choir, and watching football, hockey and curling. When she and Ed retired and moved back to Calgary in 2000, Muriel enjoyed spending more time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading and using her needlework skills to produce lovely cross-stitch pictures. Muriel coped valiantly with depression and then dementia in later life and never lost her loving and caring nature – her family will treasure many fond memories of their mom and grandma. A Memorial Service will be held at Altadore Baptist Church (4304 – 16 Street SW Calgary, Alberta) on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Photos, memories and condolences may be shared through www.evanjstrong.comIf friends desire, memorial donations may be made to Calgary Meals on Wheels (5759 - 80 Avenue SE, Calgary, T3C 4S6, telephone: 403-243-2834, website: www.mealsonwheels.com) or Walden Heights Enrichment Fund (Walden Heights Seniors Community, 250 Walden Drive SE Calgary, Alberta T2X 0V1 telephone 403-873-4700, website: www.agecare.ca). The family would like to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Walden Heights Seniors Community for their compassionate care of Muriel over the last 2 1/2 years. Arrangements in care of Evan J. Strong Funeral Services 403-265-1199.

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 29, 2014