Obituary of Brenda Mary Stelmack
Brenda Mary Stelmack, age 69, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday evening, February 26, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.
Brenda was born on December 18, 1953 to Cecil and Kathleen Cooper in Montreal, Quebec. She grew up in Saskatoon Saskatchewan, graduating from Holy Cross High School in 1971. Her independence calling, she left home at age 17 to attend Mount Royal College School of Interior Design, where she would meet a young man in her class that would become her husband of 50 years. Brenda and Ken were married on April 14, 1973 at Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Saskatoon.
After both receiving their Diploma’s in Interior Design in the spring of 1973, Ken and Brenda moved to Red Deer, AB to start their new life. She worked at Mitchell and Jewell and the Red Deer Advocate before starting with the City of Red Deer. Brenda held several positions, including for the Recreation and Culture Department as the Activity Guide Coordinator and as an administrative clerk for the RCMP. Wherever she was employed, she received commendations, congratulations, and accolades for her work. She retired from the city in September, 2006 after completing 15 years of service to the City of Red Deer.
While working full time, raising her three children, and being involved in all of their activities, Brenda still found time to return to school, receiving her Diploma in Business Administration from Red Deer College in 2001.
Brenda loved the outdoors. Her children became involved in an outdoors youth organization, Junior Forest Wardens, at a young age. Brenda was heavily involved with the organization that would become her second family for 16 years, accompanying her children with the various activities, acting as a leader for each of their age groups, and forging many lifelong friendships along the way. Among her favorite activity was the yearly cold camp, surviving the weekend in an improvised shelter in the dead of the Alberta winter.
Upon retirement, with her children grown up and no longer in need of her constant dedication, Brenda became free to focus on her gardening, transforming her backyard into a sanctuary, and attending her Tuesday pottery club. Her sense of adventure continued in the form of traveling, purchasing a motorhome so she can explore Canada with her husband Ken, and further abroad to Italy, Mexico, and Cuba, among others, with her sisters.
Brenda is survived by her husband Ken; their three children Chris, Garett (Ashley), and Ryan (Terra), and grandchildren Henry, Cooper, Nicholai, Hudson, and Emery. She is also survived by her brother John (Jean) Cooper; sisters Sharon (Rick) Murza, and Gina Zdunich; in laws Barbara Stelmack and Doug (Florence) Stelmack as well as numerous nieces and nephews who were a big part of her life as well as extended family members and friends . Welcoming her into heaven are her parents, Cecil and Kathleen, her sisters Mary and Barbara, Gary Zdunich, Rex and Joanne Armitage, Russ Stelmack, and many others.
The Stelmack Family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to the Extendicare Michener Hill, Unit 1600, who were an instrumental part of her life for the last 8 years.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Parish, 6 – McMillian Ave. Red Deer AB on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 12:00 noon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made directly to the Alzheimer Society of Red Deer and Central Alberta, G5, 5550 – 45 St., Red Deer AB T4N 1L1.
Condolences to Brenda’s family may be emailed to meaningful@telus.net. Please indicate “Stelmack” in the subject line.
Arrangements in care of
Meaningful Memorials Funeral Service
A locally owned cremation and funeral provider
serving Red Deer and all of Central Alberta
587-876-4944