Dorothy Jean Alwood (nee: Sparks) born June 26, 1929 in Nanton, Alberta, passed away peacefully in Red Deer, Alberta, on Wednesday December 21, 2022 at 93 years of age.

Jean leaves her loving family to grieve her loss but also to celebrate her life; Marilyn Greig (Rob), Melanie Brais (Paul), Karen McAfee (Garry), Doug Alwood (Rose), Kathleen Sinclair (Garth), and Michael Alwood as well as 17 Grandchildren and 19 Great Grandchildren. She is predeceased by John William Alwood (Bill) the love of her life, her daughters Kathleen Lapeyrouse (nee: Stewart) and Robin Alwood, both of her parents, her 2 sisters and 3 brothers and her first husband Robert Stanley Stewart (Bob).

Jean was the third child of six born to Edward and Lillian Sparks. Her father was a section foreman with CP Rail so, during her childhood, the family moved quite a few times before settling in Champion where she graduated from high school in 1946.

In July 1947 she got her first job in banking as a teller with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. She was proudly 5 foot 2-1/2 inches in stature and often spoke about having to stand on a wooden peach crate in the Tellers cage to be able do her job comfortably. She was trained to use the pistol kept in her cash box and was required to use a red pencil and a black pencil to manually balance the ledgers at the end of each day.

In 1948 she became engaged to Bob Stewart and they were married April 9, 1949. It was at this time she had to stop working as a teller for the CIBC as their policy was to not employ married women. But that was okay for her as she devoted her time to being a wife and mother to their two daughters; Kathleen born June 1950 and Marilyn born June 1952.

In 1955, Bob and Jean parted ways. She moved to Calgary with her two girls and although separated, she was still legally married thus CIBC hiring policies meant she could not be rehired. So, she obtained employment with the Bank of Montreal at the 5th Street Branch where she remained for 13 years. She worked her way quickly through the ranks and eventually into management positions.

Between 1955 and 1968 her loyalty to the Bank of Montreal was only surpassed by the love and dedication she put into raising her two daughters largely on her own. No matter how busy she was she still found the time to be the most amazing mom to her girls. Even being a home seamstress creating clothing for her and her girls including their beautiful prom gowns and graduation dresses.

In 1968 the Bank of Montreal sent her to Ottawa for three weeks for teacher training. Immediately upon her return she assumed her first management post as a Training Officer at Calgary Main Office but for roles throughout the Province.

1968 was a big year for Jean. Not just with her career but it was also the year she met the love of her life Bill (John William Alwood); an introduction orchestrated by her youngest brother Dennis Sparks and friend Karen Alwood (now McAfee). Bill was Karen’s dad who was also single at the time but there was a small problem. He lived in Edmonton and was an avid Eskimos fan and she was in Calgary and an avid Stampeders fan. The meeting took place in Edmonton on a day that they were all spectators at a football game where the Eskimos and the Stampeders played against each other. The sports rivalry didn’t seem to matter as less than a year later on August 9, 1969 Bill and Jean married. Their union blended two families into one. Jean and her two daughters became part of a larger portrait with the addition of Bill’s two sons and three daughters totalling seven kids. She was incredibly proud of her blended family.

Bill and Jean then bought their first house together and made Calgary their home. He was still an Eskimos Fan and she still loyal to the Stampeders, which made for interesting conversations at times.

In July 1970, quite by accident but non the less loved Bill, Jean and their seven children welcomed Melanie the final addition to the family. Now there were eight.

1970 was a busy year again. After the three months maternity leave allowed at the time, Jean returned to work being promoted to Assistant Manager at the Chevron Branch. Although loyal to the Bank she was even more so a dedicated mom who mastered the home and work balance so incredibly well that she maintained her extra curricular activities such as softball, bowling league, piano lessons, crocheting, knitting all while maintaining her home, garden and family.

At one point in the early to mid 1970’s she joined Bank of Montreal’s Organization & Methods Department where she compiled all Alberta Branch statistics manually. Computers now do this job.

She became one of the first female Branch Managers in Alberta at the Calgary Power Branch. She was then transferred to the Hillhurst Branch; orchestrating its move into a brand new building in 1979. While there, she tripled the branch’s business and it was rumoured that it took three people to replace her.

In 1980 she and Bill moved to Didsbury, Alberta and although she took very early retirement in 1981 she continued to work part time when called upon and was honoured to assist the Bank of Montreal in their United Way Campaign for a number of years. Her retirement didn’t slow her down at all as, while working part time and still raising a pre-teen, she added more to her schedule including her glee club The Singing Adelaide’s and the Order of Eastern Star – St. Hilda #27.

In 1984 she and Bill moved to Airdrie and in 1991 to Red Deer.

She lost “her” Bill in December 2004. Jean was always involved with her family and this didn’t change after the loss of her beloved. As amazing as she was as a mom, sister, aunt and friend … being a grandparent brought her pure joy. She loved her grandchildren with all her heart and as her grandchildren started having children of their own, it was her great grandchildren that reignited the spark in her golden years.

She was a force of nature and loved by many. The relationships she had built over her 93 times around the sun were just as strong at the end of her journey as they were on the day they were forged.

To her family didn’t necessarily mean by blood. To her it meant by the love in her heart. This is how the many that loved her will remember her.

A Celebration Of Life will be held for Jean on July 22nd, 2023 from 1:00 to 3:00 at The Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre, 4620 47a Avenue, Red Deer Alberta.

 

• Date : 2022-12-21
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home