Arlene Louise Dawson

Arlene Louise Dawson (Calahasen) passed away in Red Deer, Alberta, on December 27th, 2023, at the age of 67 years. She will always be lovingly remembered by her husband of 48 years, Michael Dawson; son Aaron (Jennifer) Dawson; daughter Louise (Jon) Mason; grandchildren Ethan and Emily Dawson and Asjha O'Connor; Cade, Vaughn and Maddox Mason. She will be dearly missed and forever loved by her brothers and sisters: Roland, David, Melvin; Pearl, Yvonne, Stella, Freda and Helen Calahasen, along with her nieces and nephews and many grandnieces and grandnephews; sisters-in-law Pam Crombie and Julie Dawson and their families.

Louise was predeceased by her father, Adolphus John, and mother, Mary Edith Calahasen of Grouard, Alberta; her eldest brother, Peter (Sonny) and his wife, Elizabeth Calahasen; and sister-in-law, Jeanette Calahasen.

Louise was born on December 21, 1956, and raised in the Hamlet of Grouard, Alberta. She left when she married her Love, Mike, and joined him on their adventures of life as an "army wife." On this journey, she and Mike lived in CFB Winnipeg, MB, CFS Sioux Lookout, ON, CFB- Detachment, Wainwright, AB, Medicine Hat, AB, CFB Suffield, AB, CFB Borden, ON, CFB-Detachment Penhold, AB and finally settled in Red Deer, Alberta. Arlene Louise Attended College in Medicine Hat, where she pursued the Business Administration Diploma shortly after being employed in public service from 1984 to 1995. Louise also worked for Kelly Girl Services in Brantford, ON, while waiting for their home in CFB Borden, ON. Louise also worked for the CFSAL in Borden from 1988-1992, she also worked for the Base Administration CFB­ Detachment Penhold from 1992-1995. She also worked for the Mynarski Park Rec Center from 1996 to 2001, followed by Sobeys Red Deer from 2003-2010 as a Florist and Produce Manager; she finally finished working with Mary Ann Jablonski (MLA for the PC Government Red Deer North) as her Office Administrator, and unfortunately fell ill due to Cancer and therefore caused her to retire.

She loved to dance and make happy memories with family and friends, and she was always generous with her time and money. To meet her was to enter a sphere of light and love, forgiveness and empathy and a readiness for joyful laughter. Arlene Louise enjoyed gardening and developed a special love for roses, which she nurtured and grew with excitement and tenderness. Louise was also actively involved in fitness activities (cross-country skiing, swimming, bodybuilding, and hiking, to name a few). Louise was a competitive swim coach for the Borden Barracudas 1988-1992 and the lnnisfail Dolphins 1993- 2003. In addition to the above, Louise was an avid fan of her Sports Net channel and watched hockey, baseball, soccer and basketball. She also loved her food channels, but Mike, her husband, was her favorite chef.

This lovely Spirit of Life will be ever loved and missed by all who knew her.

The family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to the staff at the Cross Cancer Institute at the University of Alberta and the Red Deer Regional Hospital (ICU Department) for the beautiful and tender care they provided to our beloved Arlene Louise during her most difficult times.

A Celebration of Life for Arlene Louise Dawson will be held at Westerner Park, Harvest Center (Marquis Room) on May 25th, 2024, from 1 pm - 4 PM, and the family and close friends will share personal memories at 2:00 pm.

All friends and family are welcome to share in this Celebration of Life.