Ada Elizabeth Fox (nee Whittemore)

October 25, 1924 – July 8, 2025

It is with great love that we announce the passing of our Matriarch, Ada Elizabeth Fox at the age of 100.  Ada passed away peacefully at her home in Inglewood Retirement Living in Red Deer.  Ada was born in Red Deer at Mrs. Symon’s Nursing Home to Frederick and Alice Whittemore.  Her family, including her five siblings, lived on a farm in the Hillsdown District east of Red Deer.  She attended Hillsdown School until Grade 9 and then worked on the family farm.  When she was 18, she began to work as a housekeeper and nanny for three neighbouring families.  She earned $40/month.

In 1946, she met Harold Joseph Fox who had just returned home from the war.  They were married on June 21, 1947.  For five months they lived with Ada’s parents until they were able to purchase a farm five miles away in the Cumberland District.  They started out with 4 cows, 1 sow with piglets and a few chickens.  Their house was old and had little to no insulation – winters were cold and very snowy.

In 1951, their son Keith Harold was born and their daughter Patricia Ann followed in 1953.  In 1956 they had an oil well drilled on their land and received enough money from the lease to build a new house.  What a treat for them!  Power, water, a bathroom and natural gas all at once!!

Summers were very busy on the farm – lots of cousins from both sides of the family spent time there, sometimes 6 or 8 kids at a time!  Ada loved to garden and always grew a huge vegetable garden and many beautiful flowers.

Ada loved her family unconditionally and spent many hours with her grandchildren.  Everyone learned to play cards and had hours of fun dressing up in her tickle trunk clothes.  She was often referred to as “Grandma” by many neighbourhood kids.

Ada has always been a social person which led her to be involved in many community groups.  She was an active member of the Hillsdown Women’s Institute for over 60 years; was very involved in her church; belonged to a tea group of neighbourhood ladies; and loved to play cards once a week.  Harold and Ada joined the Delburne Square Dance Club and danced all across Canada, even on Parliament Hill! She was a diehard quilter and gifted many, many unique quilts to family and friends.  She also loved to knit slippers!  We all have had a pair of Ada’s slippers and for many years she would donate them by the bagful to Ronald McDonald House.

In 2012, Ada moved into Red Deer and made Inglewood Retirement Living her home.  She made many good friends here and thoroughly enjoyed all the activities they had to offer.  It was a good move for her and she was very happy there.

Ada will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered and forever cherished in the hearts of her family and dear friends.  Ada leaves to mourn her loss, her son Keith (Joyce) Fox of Red Deer County; her daughter Pat (Bill) Odowichuk of Delburne; eight grandchildren, Jody (Shaun) Barrett, Suzanne (Brad) Koopmans, Brent Fox (Tami-Jo Shaw), Taylor Fox (Zach Fernandez), Parker Fox (Brooke Wildman), Dustin (Phoenix) Odowichuk, Derek (Natasha) Odowichuk, and Brandy Odowichuk.  Her great grandchildren, Spenser (Whitney) Barrett, Daniel Barrett (Aleisha Kelly), Nickolas Barrett, Jordan Koopmans, Sarah (Brett) Cote, Savanna Douse, Lyndy (Shea) Thomas, Sophie Douse, Emmett Odowichuk and Everly Odowichuk. Her great great grandchildren, Edward and Edith Douse and Teddy Barrett.  Ada will also be sadly missed by her two sisters-in-law Betty Whittemore and Vonna Whittemore as well as numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Ada was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Harold Joseph Fox in 2006; her parents and her five siblings as well as all of Harold’s siblings.  Ada was truly our Matriarch as she was the last remaining Whittemore and Fox family member of that generation.

A public celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 2:00 pm at St. Leonard’s on the Hill Anglican Church, 4241 44^th Street Red Deer.  Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories or The Lending Cupboard, Red Deer or a charity of your choice. Condolences to the family may be made by visiting www.eventidefuneralchapels.com

• Date : 2025-07-08
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home, www.eventidefuneralchapels.com