Obituary of Laurel Mae Hallett

Family said a tearful goodbye to our dear Mother/Grandmother/Great-Grandmother, Laurel Mae Hallett on June 12, 2018. Laurel King was born on July 31, 1923, in Cereal Alberta, second daughter to Minnie May Rhodes and Thomas Vincent King. Laurel, together with older sister Mary and younger brother Lonnie, were raised by their hard-working parents through the depression, the dirty 30’s, where Laurel described “no one was too well off.” She knew she wanted to be a nurse from an early age and that dream came true when she began training in the spring of 1943 at the Calgary General Hospital, where she ‘worked her way’ to becoming an RN, graduating in the class of 1946. She loved nursing and kept in touch with classmates throughout her life, frequently attending class reunions. Her first posting was to the Olds Hospital and it was while she was living there in the nurse’s residence that she met Bob Hallett. Bob was managing the Macleod Store in town and he caught her eye one day while she was shopping. They were married on October 22, 1947 in Calgary. The couple were blessed with three children while living in Olds, Sandra Kay (1948), Gwenyth Laurel (1950) and Robert Scott (1951). The family moved to Stettler when Bob was transferred for work and it was there that in 1963 they welcomed Sheila Marie to the family. Laurel worked for the Health Unit for 8 years in Stettler and then accepted the job as the Matron of the Stettler Auxiliary Hospital (and later the Nursing Home), where she worked until retiring in 1984. She was a devoted member of the Stettler United Church and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #59. Bob and Laurel celebrated over 56 years of marriage before Bob’s passing in 2004. Laurel was also predeceased by her brother Lonnie (age 9); her sister Mary (and husband Lester Marr); in-laws Willard and Mae Hallett and nephew Brian Hallett. She is survived by her 4 children Sandra Budge (Peace Village, New York), Gwen (Mike) Bowden of Mayerthorpe, Bob (Vivian) Hallett of Edmonton and Sheila Hallett of Edmonton; her 9 grandchildren Chris (Greg Tulloch), Melinda Budge (Jason Cammidge), Theresa (Rob) McEwen, Susan Budge (Trevor Fritz), Bobbie Wright (Orlando Parra), Derek (Andrea) Hallett, Bill (Kourtney) Hallett, Erin and Alex Kushniruk; and her 13 great-grandchildren Jackson, Cole and Janae Tulloch, Robyn Budge and Theo Cammidge, Keira and Rayna McEwen, Allyssa and Jenna Fritz, Larkin and Brayden Wright, Henry and Ben Hallett. Laurel is also fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and their families. The family wish to thank the long-term care staff of Kensington Shepherd’s Care in Edmonton for their compassionate care of Laurel for over 7 years. A funeral service will be held at the Stettler United Church on June 19th at 2 P.M. Anyone wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to Shepherd’s Care Foundation, the Stettler United Church or a charity of your choice c/o Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium.