Obituary of Gloria Irene SWARTHFIGURE

Gloria Irene Swarthfigure beloved wife of the Late Willard Thomas Swarthfigure, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2015 at the age of 71 years. Biography: Gloria was born to parents Thomas and Florence Blunden in Chilliwack BC on October 24, 1943. She grew up with her brother Bryan on a pretty little farm about ten miles South of Fort Mcleod called Rainbow Ranch. Gloria moved to Calgary in 1961 to attend Mount Royal College and obtain her Secretarial Arts Diploma. Some of her lifelong friends include Dianne Beeza, Dorene Rouse and Charlene Mason. Gloria really looked forward to their visits and would recount them later to Collene. In 1967 she married the love of her life Willard Swarthfigure. Willy was a great guy that had a passion for growing his tomatoes and flowers in the greenhouse over the garage. He took great care in the yard and having a firm green lawn was a source of pride for hm. Willy had a wide caring smile and was quick to make friends with many of the people in the neighborhood. Their first child was born on June 26, 1969. Kevin was to the very end the apple of Gloria’s eye. It was a few years later March 14, 1972 that Willy and Gloria had their second child Collene. Gloria was diligent to instill a set of values both she and Florence could be proud of. Florence wouldn’t have had it any other way. In 1973 Gloria and Willy moved into their home in Glamorgan. Gloria absolutely loved that home. It is very important to know it wasn’t a house. It was more than that, it was her home and she never wanted to live anywhere else. Late in 2013 she had taken a fall a couple of times and had decided that she likely needed some help. Instead of considering an assisted living home or something along those lines she approached Collene and asked if an addition to the house could be built. As the addition was being added, she had a great time choosing flooring and colours. She said it was a very interesting experience and really enjoyed seeing how things went together. On November 21 she moved into her new addition. She was thrilled and said she absolutely loved having Collene so close. She loved that ne addition so much that she really didn’t want to go anywhere. There were times that her little car didn’t move for more than a week or two ant a stretch. She had a sewing room in the basement and she was having a blast making quilts on her long arm quilting machine. She enjoyed making those quilts and put an enormous amount of pride and effort into doing the very best that she was able to. She got better with every one that she finished and there are now numerous quilts that are adorning the beds and couches of friends and family. One even went all the way to South Africa! Gloria was taken from us very suddenly and far too early. She was quick to joke and banter and loved to laugh. She was a great spoiler of a couple of Labrador Retrievers when they came to live with her. They knew exactly where Gandma’s cookie jar was and she would light up whenever they came to see her and sit in front of that jar! Funeral Services will be held at CALGARY CREMATORIUM CHAPEL, 3219 – 4th Street N.W., (within the valley of Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Reception to honour her life to follow at Her Home!