Eileen May Heggen, age 93, of Hanna, Alta. passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, Aug. 17, 2021 at the Hanna Hospital.
Eileen is survived by her children: Reg (Maureen) Corry of Hanna, Archie (Debbie) Corry of Netherby, Alta., Linda (Brian) Kollman of Calgary and daughter-in-law Audrey Corry of Red Deer.
She is also survived by grandchildren: Michele (Chad) Corry, Angela (Jason) Jones, Michael Corry, Heather (Jeff) Beaton, Melanie (Justin) Stoppler, Shannon (Jonathan) Brunning, Brian (Brittany) Corry; Amanda (Shane) Derby, Conrad (Lauren) Corry, Bradley Kollman, Tyler Kollman; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Eileen was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Blanche Johnston; sister Edna and brother Rayford; sister-in-law Mavis Johnston; brother Fred Johnston; husbands Clifford Corry and Clarence Heggen; son Leonard Corry and granddaughter Nicole Corry.
Eileen was born on the family farm 14 miles northeast of Hanna on Jan. 21, 1928 to parents Fred and Blanche Johnston.
Eileen shared many fond memories of playing with her older brothers Freddie and Rayford and her younger sister Edna as they were growing up on the prairie. They rode their horse Brownie to the Alps school where they also participated in Christmas programs and sports days.
“Those were the days” shared Eileen – “always lots of fun and games and sometimes even homemade ice cream!”
Eileen took her high schooling in Hanna and stayed at the dorm but she loved going home on weekends.
Eileen married Cliff Corry on Nov. 19, 1948 at the United Church in Hanna. She moved six miles northeast of her home to the Corry place where the young couple started a full life of working hard on the farm and having lots of fun too.
Eileen raised chickens, milked cows and grew and preserved a huge garden every year. They raised four children: Reg, Archie, Leonard and Linda.
Over the years, Eileen has shared lots of stories of raising those kids on the farm and the hijinks they would get up to. She admitted once that she even had to tie Leonard to the clothesline to keep him from running off so she could make dinner for the branding crew.
Eileen loved fun and enjoyed getting together with neighbours for cards parties, community dances, snowmobiling in the winter, sports days, fishing and family holidays in the summer.
Eileen and Clifford loved to travel and have fun with their friends until Cliff tragically passed away on Sept 28, 1978.
In 1981 Eileen married Clarence Heggen and Eileen and Linda moved to his farm at Spondin, Alta.
Eileen made many friends in the Spondin community and they took part in all the community events.
Clarence and Eileen put in many miles in their motor home throughout the United States and up to Alaska.
They enjoyed attending the Brier, rodeos and visiting friends from around the area.
They eventually retired to an acreage in the Stettler area and enjoyed many years of friendships and travel.
When Clarence passed away in 2001, Eileen moved into Stettler where she maintained her many friendships and kept busy going for coffee with the gang twice a day.
Eileen moved to the Hanna lodge to be closer to her family and enjoyed the friendships and activities of her life there – especially the live music two or three times each week.
Eileen enjoyed knitting and crocheting and her hands were always busy whenever she was sitting down.
She even crocheted the “Lord’s Prayer” for each one of her kids. She really missed her handiwork when macular degeneration made it impossible for her to continue. Luckily, her family has many examples of her lovely work to cherish.
Eileen was very proud of her family and loved when we all would get together for holidays and family celebrations. We are a large, rambunctious group and she loved every minute of our noisy gatherings.
Eileen loved a good joke, a “snifter” every once in a while, and being surrounded by her family and friends. We will miss her dearly.
A memorial service was held at the First United Church, Hanna on Sat. Aug. 21, 2021.
Inurnment took place at the Netherby Cemetery prior to the service.
If desired donations, in Eileen’s memory can be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or to STARS Air Ambulance.
Hanna Funeral Service Ltd. entrusted with the care and arrangements; 403-854-5956, www.hannafuneral.ca.
