Longtime Innisfail resident and loving matriarch of the Derby clan, Mrs. Alberta Evelyn Derby (Bert to her friends) peacefully passed following a brief acute illness at the age of ninety years.

Attended by close family and the caring staff at Innisfail Health Care Centre, she concluded a life well lived with few regrets, other than being unable to verbalize her final goodbyes to her loved ones. Those that knew her will realize this was an indignity for which she would not stand.

Alberta married her best friend Jim in Calgary in 1955, and they moved to Central Alberta in 1961 to raise their family. They enjoyed golfing, curling and travel, and being involved in their children’s and grandchildren’s endeavors such as figure skating, dance, hockey and the arts. Long after she lost Jim, she could be seen attending her great-grandchildren’s events all over Alberta. She also worked for many years at the Scotiabank and Post Office in Innisfail, but her first love and priority was always her family and friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.

She is lovingly remembered by every one of her children, grand-children and great-grandchildren, her eldest son, Gregory (Joanne) of Innisfail, their daughter, Jennifer Derby Wagner (Max) of Calgary, their son Marshall and daughter Lila; daughter, Jacquelyn Derby-Bristow (Brandon) of Innisfail and their sons Nolan, Blake and Carson.

Number two son, Garth has retired to Apache Junction, Arizona and is still an occasionally-artistic loner and rebel.

Daughter, Rhonda (Shane) Box of Ninette, Manitoba and their sons Riley (Lynley) of Niverville and their daughters Isla and Vera and son Harvey; son Jaret (Erin) of Killarney.

The entire clan was able to attend a family reunion and celebration of her ninetieth year at the Innisfail Golf Club in late August.

She was pre-deceased by her parents, Arthur and Elizabeth Dodge and her siblings Vera Gillette, Gladys Sanders, Thomas Dodge, Ethel Danforth and Donna Fox, and the love of her life, her husband James in 2003. In accordance with her wishes, there will be no service, and Alberta will be interred in the Memorial Wall along with her true love James at the Innisfail Cemetery. Memorial tributes are gladly accepted at the Heart and Stroke Foundation 101, 5208-53 Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of: Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., 4415 – 49 Street, Innisfail, Alberta. Phone: 403.227.0006

• Date : 2025-12-20
• Location : (Innisfail) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com