Obituaries

Lorraine Marjorie Stewart 1935 – 2023
The world lost a very special woman today. Lorraine Stewart (nee Pepin) (nee Calvert) recently celebrated her 88th birthday surrounded by the family she loved so dearly. Mom proudly announced that she was “the first of all (her) ancestors to reach the age of 88”!
Mom was born i Edmonton to Marjorie Logan ( pre deceased) )and Nap Pepin ( pre deceased). Mom experienced significant loss in her life, including her brother Norman, her son Kerry, and her beloved husband Merv Stewart.
Despite her losses Mom remained optimistic, loving, tenacious, and driven. She taught piano early on and had planned to make a career of it. At 18 years of age her plans shifted so that she could care for her siblings when her mother was hospitalized following her father’s death. It was during this time she met and married Ken Calvert with whom she had four children: Kirk, Colleen, Kerry and Carla. Mom was intensely proud of each of her children . Divorced in 1967, she married Merv Stewart in 1969 – the beginning of a beautiful romance.
Mom had a very rewarding career. She worked in a variety of roles, including Administrative Assistant for the Deputy Minister of Alberta Public Affairs. She enjoyed great success as the music school director at Shaw Organ and Piano. She eventually earned her Certified Human Resource Professional designation at U of A. She worked as an HR Consultant at Ed Tel and Youth Employment Services, then formed Career Works with her dear friend Wendy Fox, and ultimately founded Career Strategies Inc. in partnership with her daughter Carla.
Anyone who knows Mom at all, knows she held a black belt in retail therapy. She loved clothing and accessories and lived for a bargain! She would say “if its 75% off that’s great, if its 80% off God wants you to have it” She never left home without looking like a million bucks! Strangers would literally cross the street to compliment her on how beautiful she was.
A passionate supporter of the performing arts and an opera lover following her first exposure to opera at the age of 3, Mom made it her aim to share opera with everyone she met. She performed in concerts with the Capital Choral Society and sang in the Edmonton Opera chorus. She introduced Merv to opera, and he eventually became President of the Board of the Edmonton Opera. Mom so enjoyed her opera travels to San Francisco, the Met in NYC, San Diego, the Royal Opera House of England, and the Sydney Opera House.
Mom also loved entertaining. She would turn an ordinary day into something extraordinary for her family and many friends. When she moved to Parkland she spent hours creating beautiful table centers for every special occasion. Mom was also active helping to plan arts events for her fellow residents. In her final days Mom received so many letters from friends and relatives from across the globe who expressed gratitude for the significant impact Mom has had on their lives. She will be deeply missed by so, so many.

Along with her many friends, Mom leaves behind: her children Kirk Calvert (Colette), Colleen Calvert (Sheila), and Carla Anglehart; her sister Charmaine Pearson, brother Larry Pepin; grandchildren Elise (Matt), Talia (Jay), Darielle (Tom), Melissa Wickins, Alee Wickins (Brandon), Andrew Anglehart, and step-grandson Dylan Fraser; great grandchildren: Adelaide, Oaklynn, Jack, William, Sophie, Piper, Cameron, Parker; nieces Kym Maksym, Sari LaBelle (Michael), Eryn, and nephew Nap Pepin (Leslie).
We’ve lost a one-of-a-kind woman. Pretty sure there’s quite a reception awaiting her arrival, including her “Mervelous”, champagne in hand, lively music and many blessed reunions!