Mrs. Dorothy Ella McGrandle
Posted Jun 5, 2018 | 11:59 PM
Mrs. Dorothy Ella McGrandle of Red Deer, Alberta passed away peacefully, following a lingering illness at the Red Deer Hospice on Monday, May 28, 2018 at the age of 80 years. Dorothy was born in Edmonton, Alberta on February 12, 1938. She was the second of nine children born to Ted and Agnes Folkman. When Dorothy was very young, one of her relatives observed that she was hopping instead of crawling and nicknamed her ‘Bunny’. That name was used throughout her life by her parents, and brothers and sisters; although she was not very fond of it. Her father Ted, was an Itinerant Minister; so Dorothy was raised in many different locations throughout Alberta. She started school in Creston, British Columbia. When her dad went through a period of unemployment, she went to Edmonton at the age of thirteen to live with her Uncle and his family. Her family later reunited and as a young adult, she took training at the University Hospital, at the University of Alberta. She started in Nursing School, but due to an allergy to the disinfectant soap used at the time, she became a Laboratory Technologist instead. While working there, she met the love of her life, Len McGrandle, when he came to her home with a friend of his from University, to buy some German books. Instead of giving away his money, he gave away his heart to Dorothy. Len and Dorothy were married in August 1963, in Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edmonton. They moved to Red Deer, Alberta, where Len worked as a teacher, and Dorothy found employment as a Laboratory Technologist at Kasper and Associates in Red Deer, until her retirement in 1995. As a young mother, she was also a singer with the Waska Sues, a Women’s Choral Group in Red Deer. A firm believer in Christ since she was small, Dorothy was very active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), serving in various capacities; including President of the ABC District (Alberta-BC). During her retirement, she served for several years as a Stephen Minister, and spent time supporting those who were nearing the end of their lives. In recent years, she enjoyed traveling throughout Alberta and BC with with her husband, Len. Dorothy was a caring wife and a loving mom; who raised three children, and enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dorothy was warm and compassionate, with a deep heart for the Lord. She will be deeply missed. Dorothy will lovingly be remembered by her husband of fifty-five years, Len McGrandle; children, Linda Smith, Darren McGrandle and Laureen Auld; as well as eight grandchildren, one adopted grandchild, three great grandchildren and numerous other family and dear friends. A Funeral Service will be held at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 18 Selkirk Boulevard, Red Deer, Alberta on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Don Hennig officiating. A Private Family Interment will be held at a later date, at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta. If desired and in lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations in Dorothy’s honour may be made directly to the Red Deer Hospice Society at www.reddeerhospice.com. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com. Arrangements in care of Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.
- Date : 2018-05-28
- Location : Red Deer