Monica Nadine McIntosh

With sadness we announce the passing of Monica Nadine McIntosh on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at the age of 87. She died peacefully at Age Care Seton (Calgary) with her loving family by her side.

Monica was born in Chatham, Ontario, to parents, Ronald McIntosh and Cleta McIntosh (Stinson), the middle child of three siblings, her brother Ron the eldest and Kathy the youngest. Monica was known as Honey to her parents, siblings, and extended family.

Monica had four children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Family was everything to Monica, and they formed the centre of her life. When asked recently what she was most proud of, she replied “my children”.

Monica was a sharp wit; a thoughtful conversationalist with a clever sense of humour, described as both lovely and feisty by her many friends. She was fiercely independent, and lived life on her own terms to the last.

Monica was not just a life-long learner, she was a Seeker. She pursued a life-long project to understand her place in the universe. She sought meaning and depth of understanding through art, literature, poetry, philosophy, science, and history. She made it a point to know about the world, and she had a wealth of knowledge about geography and other cultures, with a keen read on geopolitics. She had a clear sense of morality, with little tolerance for the intolerant; she could get furious over injustice and refused to mince words about evil in the world. But Monica was intentional about creating inner peace and calm and projecting kindness and empathy into the world, and she encouraged her family to do the same.

Monica’s early life was spent in southern Ontario, from Chatham to Sarnia to Corunna. As a teenager she enjoyed growing up on the St. Clair River, and attending SCITS (Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School) and then Alma College in St. Thomas, where she had many dear friends. She graduated from Alma College in 1957, then enrolled in the nursing program at Sarnia General Hospital before she changed direction to start a family.

Monica married Bob Weder in 1960, welcoming four children - Eric, Mike, Joel, and Julie - while living in Corunna. She had ample opportunity to employ her nursing skills with her own family, friends, and neighbours over the years.

She loved her kids and grandkids with ferocity, and similarly demanded they learn important life lessons young, so they were well prepared to face life with honour and be capable, decent human beings long before they were ready to leave home.

She always helped others where she could. She often took in the children of friends or family when their parents needed support. She volunteered in the community through the Red Cross and the Ladies’ Auxiliary, among other organizations. She went out of her way to ensure that their less fortunate neighbour children had snow boots and warm coats.

Monica and her family moved house multiple times due to Bob’s career as a refinery construction superintendent. Their first moves took them near the northern oil and gas fields in Whitecourt (AB), Fox Creek (AB), and Fort Nelson (BC). Monica braved the minus 40-degree temperatures and snowy weather to drive her children and the neighbour kids to and from school. With her station wagon’s tires “chained up”, she delivered her precious cargo. From snowmobiling, figure skating and cross-country skiing, to camping, travelling the back roads and chasing the northern lights, Monica instilled in her kids a love of the natural world. And she taught them how to face the elements and keep themselves and others safe.

In later years, the family moved to De Winton (AB) to start a new adventure on a small ranch, where the kids grew through adolescence. While living on the acreage, Monica worked tirelessly caring for the livestock and her gardens. Monica also had many beloved pets but Trapper, Tap, and Kitty held especially important places in her heart.

Monica and Bob went their separate ways in 1979, and Monica moved to Okotoks (AB) with her children. She had a brief stint as a realtor in 1980, but after watching the market go haywire, she sought a path that suited her better. She recounted a story of persuading a young couple against buying a home because she felt it was not advisable, given the exorbitant interest at the time. Monica then went to work for a geophysicist at the ERCB (Energy Resources Conservation Board) which suited her well. She later obtained a florist certificate and worked in a floral shop in Okotoks. She truly enjoyed working with and learning about different flowers. Her family helped to ensure she had fresh flowers around her often, once she no longer had a garden of her own.

After her children were grown, Monica returned to Sarnia (ON), where she enjoyed being close again to her family of origin, including her sister Kathy, brother-in-law Ross, and Kathy’s children Corrie, Glenn, and Melanie, and her brother Ron and sister-in-law Karen, and their children Rhonda, Lisa, and Jenn, as well as her beloved Aunt Al (Alice Corbett), who was Monica’s best friend. Monica’s favourite things to do in Sarnia - besides visiting with family - were watching the boats on the St. Clair River, eating chips under the Blue Water Bridge, and walking in Canatara Park.

Monica returned to Alberta in the late 1980s, where she played an integral role in raising the eldest four of her grandchildren. Monica shared an especially close bond with her daughter Julie, residing together and acting as a secondary parent as well as grandmother to Julie’s children from infancy until they were grown. Through the ’90s and ’00s, Mike and his daughter Alanna lived with the family, becoming part of Monica’s brood as well.

Known as “Nanny” or simply “Nan” to her grandchildren, she was beloved as a special person in the lives of all of her grandchildren. They have expressed profound gratitude to their Nan for being such a central figure in their lives.

An accomplished dancer and pianist, Monica’s other interests included crossword puzzles, Scrabble, card games, listening to music, particularly classical, reading and painting. She explored her love of the natural world through art, becoming a skilled painter in both watercolour and oil, creating stunning works featuring the Rocky Mountains, wildflowers, and wildlife. She was an avid reader - in addition to literature, history, philosophy, and poetry, she enjoyed mysteries such as Agatha Christie’s novels. She was passionate about following world affairs, and stayed on top of current events. She loved “her Blue Jays” - the baseball team - and she also loved the bird of the same name.

Monica moved back to Sarnia in 2007, where she later received support from Pat (Home Instead), who became an important friend to her, and we thank her for that.

In 2020, Monica returned once again to Alberta, where she could be surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in her later years. Monica’s heart was always stretched between the two provinces; whenever she was in one province, she missed her family in the other. Monica lived at Sandstone Lodge in Okotoks for five years and frequently talked about the kindness of the staff and her dear friends there. She was also fond of the Home Care team who not only supported her, but often took extra time to have a conversation. We thank them for those important relationships.

Monica also developed a special relationship with Cheyenne from All About Care, who became her friend and treasured companion during this time.

Monica was fortunate to have a room at Sandstone Lodge that overlooked the river valley, with the Rocky Mountains in the distance. Monica, being an avid nature lover, spent many hours watching the deer, rabbits, squirrels and birds passing by her window. She often commented that she missed the cardinals that were ever-present in Ontario but not in Alberta. Her favourite season was spring, when everything came back to life.

Shortly before passing on, Monica moved to Age Care Seton in Calgary, and we wish to acknowledge the kind support of the staff. We also want to thank Dr. Steed, who was compassionate and gentle with Monica and with us, guiding us together on Monica’s final journey.

Monica is lovingly remembered by her sister, Kathy and brother-in-law Ross Fuller in Camlachie (ON); four children, Eric Weder (Texas, USA), Mike (Deanna) Weder (Okotoks), Joel (Sharon Lenz) Weder (Calgary), and Julie McLean (Calgary); four grandchildren, Jesse McLean, Jenny (Aaron Scholpp) McLean, Cole McLean (all in Calgary) and Wyatt Weder (Okotoks); and two great-grandchildren, Andy McLean and Rosalind Buchanan (both in Calgary), and numerous extended family members who were frequently in her thoughts.

She is predeceased by her parents, Ronald “Mac” and Cleta McIntosh (Corunna, ON); her brother, Ron; sister-in-law, Karen McIntosh (Port Elgin, ON); and her granddaughter Alanna Weder (Vancouver, BC), as well as several extended family members, including her beloved Aunt Al (Alice Corbett, Sarnia, ON).

Monica suffered tremendously through the breakdown of her physical self but never allowed her pain to dull her spirit - she remained cheerful and caring, wise and compassionate, funny and joyful.

She was secure in knowing we do not die, but that when our time here is over, we simply return to whence we came: to a place of pure love, light and goodness.

“All are but parts of one stupendous whole, whose body nature is, and God the soul.”

        - Alexander Pope (excerpt from An Essay on Man: Epistle I)