1941 – 2024
Eileen Ruth Newsham of the Innisfail area passed away on January 23, 2024 at the age of 82 years.
Eileen was born to Louis and Ruth LaRose in Stettler, Alberta in June 1941. Later on in her childhood she moved to Calgary with the rest of her family where she attended Queen Elizabeth High School. She graduated from high school at Canadian Nazarene College in Red Deer in 1959. It was at CNC where she met Claude. He married his high school sweetheart in 1961 (when Eileen was only 19 years old!).
They began married life in Calgary where they had 2 sons - Laurie, Randy, and daughter - Michelle. In September of 1968, they moved west of Innisfail to take over the family farm. In 2004 they (semi) retired from farming and moved onto an acreage nearby. Eileen volunteered regularly for the Innisfail Hospital (Extended Care) and with Home Care services, visiting with clients in their homes, supporting activities at Rosefield Centre, and sitting with many palliative patients as they moved.from this life into the next.
Eileen was an amazing cook and loved to have family, friends and special speakers from church in their home for meals. She was famous for her maple walnut chiffon cake. Eileen was an avid supporter of her children, attending many sporting events, 4-H shows, band concerts, etc. She volunteered for these, too, ensuring success in her kids’ areas of interest. She is fondly remembered for her enjoyment of Christmas, including antics fraught with laughter. This intense, breathless, tear-producing laughter was passed on through her mom and now on to multiple generations.
She enjoyed knitting, quilting, reading, and skating parties at the river. Eileen loved to spend time with her grandkids - music festivals, motocross races and gingerbread house-building were highlights. Claude and Eileen could usually be found at Southern Gospel music events and enjoyed several cruises later in life, visiting many countries in the Americas.
Eileen spent her final years at Points West Living (Taylor View Towers) in Red Deer, where she received exceptional care. Her family will always be grateful for the amazing staff who took care of her so personally and professionally.
Eileen was predeceased by her parents and brothers, and is survived by her husband, 3 kids and their spouses, 4 grandkids (and spouses), 5 great-grandkids, many nieces and nephews,and other extended family.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Innisfail Church of the Nazarene on Saturday, February 3rd at 2pm.
