(1933 - 2022)

It is with sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Yvonne Whelton, on February 17, 2022, at the age of 88 years.

Yvonne was born in Grandview, Manitoba, in 1933, as the second of ten children. She worked for the federal government while living in Edmonton, Alberta, before marrying the love of her life, Donald Whelton, in 1958. The pair moved to Fort McMurray in 1967, where they raised their five children. Yvonne worked as a letter carrier with Canada Post, and delivered the first door-to-door letter in Fort McMurray by hand to mayor Chuck Knight. She spent the last years of her life living with her family in Sherwood Park, Alberta.

Yvonne loved the outdoors, and would spend much time gardening and bird-watching at the family cabin at North Buck Lake. She loved the water, and was a synchronized swimmer in her youth, and as an instructor taught the blind and visually-impaired to swim. She was a passionate and life-long artist and artisan, working in many mediums: watercolour, copper, sewing, knitting, and especially quilting, the latter of which she shared lovingly with her family, and for which she won many awards at fairs and the Alberta Senior Games.

She was active in her community well into her later years, as a member of such organizations as the Catholic Women's League, the Northern Lights Quilters Guild, the Suncor Pioneers Club, the Heritage Society, and the Golden Years Society.

Yvonne is predeceased by her father Walter and mother Dorothy, her husband Donald, brothers Ron, Wes, Dennis, Garry, Kent, and Brian, and sister Carol. She is survived by her sisters June and Brenda, five children Catherine, Barry (Corinne), Kevin (Penny), Dan, and Karen, and her four grandchildren Raedee, Reid, Shaylene, and Jason.

A service is to be held at 11 AM on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at St. John Catholic Church in Fort McMurray (3 Hospital St.), with internment to follow at the Abasand Cemetery, and a reception at 1:30 PM at the Fort McMurray Golden Years Society (10111 Main St). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Family and information contact by email: Cathy,  andarean@yahoo.ca.

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