THELMA MADELINE BANNISTER, FORMERLY OF ARROWWOOD, ALBERTA WAS CALLED HOME TO HER LORD AND SAVIOR, AUGUST 11, 1999 AT VULCAN EXTENDICARE AT THE AGE OF 79 YEARS.
THELMA WAS BORN MAY 18, 1920 AT GLEICHEN, ALBERTA TO HARRY AND FLORENCE BROWN. SHE MOVED WITH HER FAMILY TO ONTARIO AT THE AGE OF THREE AND RETURNED TO THE ARROWWOOD AREA AT THE AGE OF FOUR. AT TWELVE YEARS OF AGE THELMA HAD RHEUMATIC FEVER AND SPENT EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN BED. SHE RECEIVED HER SCHOOLING IN ARROWWOOD AND AFTER SCHOOL SHE WENT TO HENDERSON’S BUSINESS COLLEGE. THELMA WORKED IN THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA IN ARROWWOOD AND LATER TRANSFERRED TO THE MAIN BRANCH IN CALGARY. WHILE SHE WAS IN CALGARY THELMA MET CHUCK BANNISTER WHO HAD JUST RETURNED FROM OVERSEAS AND THEY WERE MARRIED ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1945. TOGETHER THEY STARTED FARMING IN ARROWWOOD IN MARCH OF 1946. THEY LIVED IN ARROWWOOD UNTIL MOVING TO VULCAN EXTENDICARE WHERE SHE HAS RESIDED SINCE.
THELMA LOVED HER FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HER GRANDCHILDREN. SHE ENJOYED GARDENING AND HER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION WHERE SHE SERVED AS PRESIDENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
HER TRUE LOVE AND PASSION WAS THE CHURCH. SHE TAUGHT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND WAS ACTIVE IN THE LADIES MISSION CIRCLE FOR MANY YEARS. FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND MISSIONARIES ENJOYED FAMILY DINNERS AND VISITS AT HER HOME. THELMA DELIGHTED TO WELCOME EACH AND EVERY ONE INTO HER HOME FILLED WITH LOVE.
LOVING MOTHER OF TWO DAUGHTERS JOANNE (EARL) AUVINGE OF ARROWWOOD AND FAYE (BOB) OAKES OF HIGH RIVER, SIX GRANDCHILDREN LISA ( WAYNE) KASPER OF ABBOTSFORD, ANNA (DARREN) POSEIN OF QUEENSTOWN, MARK OAKES OF CALGARY, NOELLE (PAUL) KAYTAR, DEBORAH OAKES AND TRAVIS OAKES ALL OF HIGH RIVER, A SISTER DOROTHY (CASEY) NORTON OF ABOTTSFORD, B.C., NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
THELMA WAS PREDECEASED BY HER HUSBAND CHUCK IN JULY 1999, TWO BROTHERS FRED BROWN AND BOB BROWN AND HER PARENTS.
FUNERAL SERVICE AT ARROWWOOD GOSPEL CHURCH TUESDAY AUGUST 17, 1999 AT 1:30 P.M. WITH REV. LEN EICHLER OFFICIATING.
HONORARY BEARERS WERE DOROTHY BROWN, ELMY BROOKS, GENEVA BURRISS, BETSY BROWN, IRENE WILLIAMS, MARG KRAUSE, PHYLLIS WILLIAMS AND GLADYS ADDISON.
CASKET BEARERS WERE MARK OAKES, TRAVIS OAKES, LISA KASPER, ANNA POSEIN, EARL AUVIGNE AND RAY CORMACK.
INTERMENT ARROWWOOD CEMETERY.
IF FRIENDS SO DESIRE TRIBUTES IN THELMA’S MEMORY COULD BE MADE TO PRAIRIE BIBLE SCHOOL THREE HILLS, ALBERTA BOX 4000 TOM 2NO.
ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME. DIRECTORS. TELEPHONE 485-2633.