It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Edna M. Sparkes (nee Heller), resident of Hythe formally Beaverlodge, on February 12, 2022. Just a few days after her 96th birthday, we said our final goodbyes to our Mom, our Gran and our Great-Gran as she passed peacefully in her sleep. Mom was born in Grande Prairie, the 3rd child of Ed and Laura Heller. With the exception of a couple of years in White Rock, she grew up on the family farm just south of Beaverlodge. School, for the first 8 years was the log, one-room Appleton Schoolhouse; two and a half miles by horse in the summer and by horse and sleigh in the winter. After graduating from the “old” Beaverlodge High School, Mom learned secretarial skills at Alberta College in Edmonton, then worked for a short while in Toronto (and enjoyed a few “adventures”, or so we were told). When she moved back to Edmonton, she met a dashing young RAF pilot, Stanley (Ned) Sparkes. Mom and Dad were married in May 1949, then sailed to England. Six years and three children (Bill, Wendy and Barry) later, they returned to Canada, settling on their own farm near Beaverlodge. There, they provided a good home for us to grow up in. After we left home to pursue our own lives and careers, Mom and Dad moved into Beaverlodge and Mom worked as the Receptionist and Director’s Secretary at the Agricultural Research Centre. Retirement in 1982 gave them the opportunity to travel. They explored a good part of Canada and beyond. On her own, Mom took grandson Peter to Moscow, granddaughter Erika to England, and grandson Logan to California to mark their 14th birthdays. Mom’s priorities in life were her family (she cared for and nurtured four generations), her church/faith and music (she was the organist for the Beaverlodge United Church for almost 56 years) and her community (her service in many ways over many years was recognized by the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award in 2004). Edna was predeceased by Ned, her husband of 62 years in 2011. She is survived by, was loved by, and will be missed by her children; Barry (Bonnie) in Victoria, Wendy Sherk (Lloyd) in Beaverlodge, and Bill (Rachna) in Thousand Oaks, CA, her grandchildren; Peter (Michelle), Erika (Chris) and Logan, and her great grandchildren; Delilah, Io, and Malek. Our thanks to the staff at the Hythe Pioneer Lodge and the Beaverlodge Municipal Hospital (especially Dr Crowe) for the care they provided Mom in her final years. We will hold a picnic in the summer (Mom always loved a picnic) to Celebrate her Life when it is a ‘little’ warmer. It will be BYOP and we will let you know when and where. If you would like to make a donation in Mom’s honour, please consider Angel Flight Alberta (www.angelflightab.ca). Very Respectfully, Beaverlodge Funeral Service.