Obituary of Jean Phyllis North

Jean Phyllis North

Jean Phyllis North (Vanderford) passed away in Edmonton on July 23, 2025 at the age of 92 years.

Jean was born August 6, 1932 in Stettler, Alberta. She was the middle child of 5 children born to Comer and Ethel Vanderford.

Jean grew up in Stettler and worked at the Stettler Post Office and the Royal Bank until she and Bob married in 1954.  Jean and Bob had 5 children and lived on the family farm south of Erskine until 2004 when they moved into town. 

Jean was a town girl who became a farmer’s wife and did an exemplary job of it. She had a big garden and flowers of all sorts.  She enjoyed sports, mainly curling and baseball and was an avid cheerleader for her kids and grandkids at their sporting events and other activities. 

Her main passion, however, was quilting!  She spent many hours sewing with her friends in the Heartland Quilters’ Guild, going on quilting retreats and fabric shopping road trips.  She gifted many beautiful quilts to kids, grandkids, great grandkids, nieces, nephews and fortunate friends.

Jean is survived by; three daughters: Leslie (Reuben) Avila of Germantown, Tennessee, Karen (Rex) Nielsen of Edmonton, Sandy (Barry) Zimmerman of St. Albert; two sons Scott (Ina) of Calgary and Frank (Susan) of St. Albert; eighteen grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Lois McPherson of Edmonton and her brother-in-law Elmer Turigan of Stettler, several nieces, nephews and many good friends.

Jean was predeceased by her husband Bob, her parents, brother Arthur Vanderford, and sisters Grace Elaschuk and Shirley Turigan.

A Celebration Of Life

Wednesday, August 6^th, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Stettler Funeral Home, Stettler Alberta

Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Alberta Heart & Stroke Foundation, Erskine Cemetery or a charity of choice.