Obituary of Esther Patricia Faith Carstairs

Carstairs (nee Henry)- Esther Faith Patricia (Pat) passed away peacefully in her sleep in Stettler Alberta, at the Stettler Heritage House on Thursday August 11, 2011 at the age of 81 years. Pat Henry was born on May 31, 1930 in Swan River, Manitoba, where she resided until she was 5 when her father passed away. She then moved with her family to Calgary AB. She sang in the Salvation Army choir, The Songsters. Pat graduated from Western Canada High school in Calgary. She worked at various jobs including at a theater and for a photographer after leaving high school. Pat met her future husband, George Carstairs, who was working in the oil industry with Henry Gall, her brother in law. Pat and George were married on July 17th, 1950 in Edmonton AB. They moved around frequently following the rig work until they moved to Stettler in 1958. Pat took a book keeping course and started working at Bloke's Bakery. In 1967, once all the kids were in school she started her career as a cook at the Stettler Hospital Complex. She retired in 1989. Pat and George then enjoyed many happy years on the acreage home north of Erskine. Sadly her husband passed away April 6, 2008. Pat then moved to Spruce Terrace Condo in Stettler where she made many new friends. On March 29, 2009 Pat had a stroke and then resided at Heritage House (where she made many more new friends) until her passing. Pat was predeceased by her father Joseph Henry, her mother Florence (Bittner) Henry, brothers Gordon and Joe, sisters Rosella and Maxine and her grandson Ricky Warren Carstairs. She was also predeceased by her husband George S. Carstairs in April 2008. She is survived by her sister Gloria Hatley and her five children: David (Teresa) of Erskine Alberta, Garry (Barb) of Vegreville, Alberta, Wayne (Lynda) of Erskine Alberta, Judy (Jim) of Nevis Alberta, and Ron (Cheryl) of Stettler Alberta. She is also survived by her grandchildren Chris (Deb), Amy (Mike), Kylee (Blair), Tara, Sara (Richard), Lana, Robert, Ingrid (Paul), Candace (Travis), Tyrell (Sara), Katie (Brandon), Christina, and Joanna, as well as eight great grandchildren Bella, Weston, Andrew, Olivia, Gwenevere, Bailey, Madik, and Karter, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Funeral services were held at Heartland Chapel of Stettler Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM with Scott Whitford officiating. Candace Carstairs gave a loving tribute to all those in attendance. Evelyn Strandquist played the organ for the congregational hymn Amazing Grace. Family and friends gathered in the Heartland Reception Centre for a time of fellowship and a luncheon by the Erskine UCW. Memorial donations may be sent to STARS, AB Heart and Stroke or to your own charity. Stettler Funeral Home entrusted with the care and arrangements.