Obituary of Kveta "Flora" VRANA
Flora passed peacefully on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 surrounded by her loved ones both here in Calgary and in Spirit by those in the Czech Republic.
She was a lover of literature and history. It was often said that her life would have made an amazing book. Daughter of Frank and Josefa Vrana, she was born in Brno Czechoslovakia during the Second World War. As a child she loved books and would consume them like kids do candy. She married Ladislav Ridil and they had a Daughter Denisa. After the Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia she fled to Milan Italy. In Milan she worked in an art gallery while she awaited immigration news from Australia and Canada. She immigrated to Canada in 1970 landing in Montreal. Remembering stories her father had told her of the Canadian Rockies she headed west to Calgary. Calgary is where she met and married Jan Jurek and eventually they would have Nicole and Thomas. She worked for Shell before the family moved to Houston, Texas. She loved everything about Texas, the people, the history, and the landscape. The family moved back to Canada and soon she began her career in real estate. She worked with Avi Amir in the start, of what would become Homes by Avi. She worked successfully in this field up to her retirement. In 1999 she was reunited with her eldest daughter Denisa. This reunion put an end to some of the darkest times in her life. In retirement she was the fearless superhero known as Babi. She played a significant role in raising her grandsons Benjamin and Evan. It broke her heart that she was not able to be in the Czech Republic to help raise her grandchildren Jakub, Premek and Deniska. In 2011 she was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. Though the prognosis was six months she respectfully disagreed, living another 78 months. In June 2015 she moved into Agape Hospice where she lived thanks to the amazing care she received. To punctuate an amazing life she became a great-grandmother, aka “Great Babi,” in December with the birth of her great-grandson Tobias and she was anxiously awaiting the birth of her second great-granddaughter in February.
She had a tenacious zest for life that taught all those around her that you can ask for more; even in finality there is a place for courage, compassion and humor.
She is survived by her daughter Denisa, her husband Borek Horky and their children Jakub (Jana), Premek (Monika) and Deniska; daughter Nicole, her husband Clayton MacNeill and their children Benjamin and Evan; her son Thomas Jurek; sister-in-law Dr. Magda Vranova; niece Dr. Jelka Wagernova and her daughter Madlenka Wagernova; Michael and Stephanie Jurek; and last but not least, all of our friends whom over the years she thought of as her own children.
The family would like to thank Dr. Jeremy deBruyn, the staff and volunteers at Agape Hospice for their tireless commitment to Flora. Thank you Kathy MacNeill, Lucie, Keri-Dawn, Major Faye, and Monika for the hours you have spent with Flora.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Agapé Hospice, to support this critical place for patients and their families.
Online Donations:
https://www.salvationarmy.ca/donations/#
To specify your donation to The Salvation Army Agape Hospice
Once you have opened the link to the donation page go to “How You Can Help” Scroll down down to 'Donation to a specific location” (click), choose the province in the menu, then specify Calgary Agape Hospice in the location menu
By Mail or Phone:
1302 - 8 Avenue N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1B8 Telephone: (403) 282-6588