Merle Delores Evans (nee Wendt)

Born July 27, 1929, in Uren, SK and passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Calgary, AB.

Youngest of seven, Merle grew up on a farm in Chaplin, Saskatchewan. The stories Merle would tell of her early life, sounded much as one would expect on a depression era farm. From the tornado where her brother, trapped in the barn with the horses, lived to see another day; to the first time she drove a truck out in the fields, when her brother caught on fire and she raced back for help. She spoke of her father’s garden, and how hard her mother worked - preserving the year’s harvest in the family’s earthen cellar.

As she grew, Merle worked as a medical assistant and played piano with her family’s band in and around Chaplin. She met Robert (Bob) in her teens. The two eventually made their way to Alberta where they were married in Edmonton, on September 1st, 1950. Merle was fiercely loved by Bob and their marriage stood the test of time.

Merle remained at home to care for their four children. The family enjoyed entertaining friends and family at their home and at their cabin at Lac La Nonne Lake. Always the gracious hosts, many a friend will recall the lively social gatherings held at 4 Grandin Place, St. Albert, dinners at their favorite restaurant, the ‘Coliseum Steak and Pizza’ and family trips to Hawaii and Arizona.

Merle was an able caregiver to her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grand children. At home and in the kitchen, her charges were always clean, well fed and dressed in hand sewn or knit clothing. We will forever remember her many delicious home cooked meals: pot stickers, bread, buns, turkey stuffing, pickles, halibut fish and chips, innumerable canned fruits and veggies, sweet and sour ribs, peanut butter cookies, butter tarts and more. Try as we might, no one can cook like Merle.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Merle’s gift for playing the piano. Her lively tunes serenading many a family gathering or public venue. She was known to tickle the ol’ ivories on any piano she found, be it at home, a museum or once in the lobby of a Cuban hotel. Her music spoke of days gone past, and when she played one could only imagine what it must have been like to attend a farm social with the entire family band providing entertainment.

In 1997, when Merle and Bob lived in Ladysmith, Merle’s eldest daughter, Sherry, unexpectedly passed away from a brain aneurism. Merle was understandably permanently changed by the sudden loss of her daughter, with her grief an ever-present undertone for the remainder of her life. She carried Sherry’s memory like only a mother could - with longing and a never-ending love.

Bob passed away April 21, 2014 of Alzheimer’s and Merle continued to live in Calgary, residing in a few care facilities as her needs evolved. Her final residence was Wentworth Manor, where she passed peacefully following a diagnosis of pneumonia. Merle was predeceased by her daughter, Sherry; husband, Robert; and many extended family members. She is survived by daughters, Debra, Wendy (Paul), Penny (Bruce); grandchildren, Robert, Steven (Carolynn), Michael (Idah), Samantha (Mark), Justine (Adam), Alexandra (Lauren); great-grandchildren, Sheala, Logan, Hamilton, Harper, Eden, Fynn, Avery, Liam and Regal; many nieces, nephews and friends. Her family wishes to thank the staff at Wentworth Manor for providing dignified end of life care for our forever loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.