Catherine Elizabeth Richards

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Catherine Elizabeth Richards on September 9, 2024 at the age of 95.

Catherine was born July 29, 1929 in Berwyn Alberta to English war bride Nellie Flora Close (nee Noakes) and William Lorne Close, an Ontario-born veteran and homesteader, their sixth of eight and fifth of six girls.

Her first seven years were spent on the farm; she started school in Kerndale, a one room rural school.   Her father moved the family into Berwyn in 1936, to reside in a home he built himself from logs harvested on the land.

During her formative years she played sports and took part in choral groups and singing competitions and was active with youth groups in the church.  She was 10 when war broke out in 1939 and 16 when it ended in 1945 and graduated in the immediate postwar period.   After graduating, Catherine worked for a time in a local grocery store before undertaking teacher training at the University of Alberta in 1949-50.  She sang with the University of Alberta Choir under Richard Eaton.

During the war years, Reverend Bernard Richards and his wife were re-located to Berwyn by the United Church, which compelled their son Fred to visit town to see his parents when he was discharged from the army in 1946.  He was quite taken with Catherine from the time they first met.

Catherine married Frederick John Richards on Dec 8, 1950, and children ensued starting the following year.  In all there were seven children born between 1951 and 1964. The family relocated to Grimshaw for a time in 1959, but in 1961 returned to Berwyn upon the death of Fred’s parents.   For much of that time, Catherine was a full-time homemaker, but she also taught in both the Grimshaw public and separate schools for a number of years.  She was also of course involved in the schools as a parent, and in the children’s sports, church activities, Air Cadets, Girl Guides, piano lessons, and just about everything else imaginable.  She and Fred curled and she also played softball occasionally.

Sadly and tragically, Fred lost his life in an motor vehicle accident in September of 1966, leaving Catherine a widow at age 37 with six children aged 2 to 15.   Within two years she was diagnosed with cancer, undertook radical surgery, lost her own father and suffered a nervous breakdown for which she underwent electric shock therapy.

Back on track, she determined that there was likely not much future for her in Berwyn, and decided in 1970 that she should move the family to Edmonton with the goal of upgrading her teaching qualifications.  It took some time but she persevered and in 1983 achieved her goal of completing her Bachelor of Education Degree.  She secured employment at the - Department of Education where she worked for several years as a substitute teacher followed by a number of years working for the Correspondence School Branch.

For much of her latter years, “Mom” became “Grandma”, as her family gave her 17 Grandchildren over the 30-year period from 1972 to 2001, and a further 14 Great Grandchildren have followed.  She had a special relationship with each and every one.

Like her siblings, Catherine was raised on strong Church of England values and she practiced her Christian beliefs all her life.  She was a gentle soul, but not a push-over, strong willed when she had to be.  She had an excellent head on her shoulders.  The challenges she faced and overcame in her early life gave rise to wisdom and wise counsel to her family, to whom she was always very supportive.  She invariably treated others with kindness and respect and with love, and was well loved in return.

Catherine will be lovingly remembered by her 6 children:  Alan (Marnie), Louise Vanderleer, Maureen Verhulst (Kevin), Bill (Melanie), Mavis (John McIntaggart) and Gordon (Wendy), 17 Grandchildren: Cheryl McDonald (Desmond), Heather Maisonneuve (Matthew), Paul (Melissa), Steve, Russell Vanderleer (Stephanie), Kimberley Hamill (Patrick), Keith Button, Kristine Blanchard, Kendall Verhulst (Jill), Carly, Ryan, Braden, Melina Reyes, Anahi Reyes-Richards (Richard Bhullar), Jazmin Reyes-Richards, Bardo Reyes-Richards and Keegan; and 14 Great Grandchildren:  Tianna, Malik, Hannah, Parker, Emmett, Elianna, Taten, Will, Nora, Peter, Kyler, Ela, Dahlia and Greysen along with one sister Nellie (George Brooks).  She is also survived by 26 nieces and nephews and their families.

Catherine was predeceased by her husband Frederick John, her parents William & Nellie Close, siblings Charlie Close, Irene (Gordon) Paul, Victoria (Albert) Johnson, Ruth (Jack) McKen, Louise (Robert) McFaddin, John (Margaret) Close, son-in-law Arthur Vanderleer, in-laws Bernard & Caroline Richards, sister-in-law Pearl Gaschnitz, 3 nieces and 3 nephews.

Catherine was a very special lady as noted by all who met her. We are forever thankful for the knowledge, joy, com­passion, love, inspiration, faith, hope, support, generosity, laughs and patience that she shared and instilled in us all. Family was our Mom, and she was our rock. Such a great legacy she has given us.

Mom/Grandma/Great-Grandma, you will be forever in our hearts.

Funeral Service

Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 1:00 pm

Good Shepherd Anglican Church

15495 Castledowns Road NW, Edmonton, Alberta