GRESS, Janet
1947 – 2025
Mrs. Janet Marie Gress (nee Enright) of Red Deer, Alberta, passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the age of 77 years. Janet was born on October 7, 1947, at Preeceville, Saskatchewan. She was welcomed into a large family as the eighth of thirteen children. Janet and her family moved often and were members of many small communities in Saskatchewan. Growing up in a large family meant Janet had many stories to share with all who would listen. She had numerous nieces and nephews that she enjoyed watching grow over the years. After High School, Janet completed a Secretarial Course that she used to start her career in banking. She worked in banks in Vonda, Saskatoon and then, Calgary. It was in Saskatoon, where Janet met her future husband, Wayne. On May 22, 1971, Janet and Wayne were married and they moved to Calgary to start their lives together. Eventually, the couple moved and settled in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, where they started their family. After her two daughters were born, Janet chose to stay home with the girls. Over the years, she became very busy with children’s activities like skating, ball, and band, as well as managing her and Wayne’s Rental Properties. Janet was a very active member of the Parent Association of the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band (NBCK). She often chaperoned band trips, worked bingos and eventually became the “Uniform Lady”. It was through her involvement with the band that Janet met many of her good friends and those years were full of cherished memories. Together with Wayne, Janet enjoyed an early retirement, where they moved to Red Deer, Alberta. Retirement involved enjoying her two grandsons, watching the Blue Jays on TV and in person, attending performances of the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra (RDSO) and participating in many of her Condo’s social activities. Janet made some excellent friends in her Condo building who brought her laughter, joy and support after the passing of Wayne in 2023. Janet will be lovingly remembered by her daughters, Lana Gress (Derek) of North Battleford, Saskatchewan and Carrie Osicki of Red Deer; and her two grandsons, Evan and Blake Osicki. She also leaves behind her brother, Terry Enright of Abbotsford, British Columbia; her sisters, Carol Burghardt of Medicine Hat, Alberta, and Colleen Blouin of Nanaimo, British Columbia. Janet had dozens of nieces and nephews who all remember her as a storyteller and the maker of amazing apple pie and fruit cake. Janet was predeceased by her husband, Wayne Gress; her parents, Lewis and Eugenie Enright, and her siblings, Tom, Pat, Walter, Margaret, Sheila and Birdie. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 6 McMillan Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. with The Reverend Father Mirek Kostarzewski, Celebrant. Interment will follow at the Alto Reste Cemetery, Red Deer County, Alberta. In honour of Janet’s involvement with the NBCK Band, and her time as a season ticket holder with the RDSO, if desired, Memorial Donations in Janet’s honor may be made directly to the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra Endowment Fund by email at info@rdso.ca or by calling 403.346.0021. Cremation entrusted to Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, Red Deer, Alberta. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com

Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium (Red Deer)

6287 – 67A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

ONLY LOCALLY FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME/CREMATORIUM

IN THE CITY OF RED DEER

• Date : 2025-05-30
• Location : (Red Deer) LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com