Jean Willis
WILLIS, Jean J.
February 10, 1934 - Loreburn, Saskatchewan
July 20, 2021 - Calgary, Alberta
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jean Willis (nee Stronski) on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at the age of 87 years.
Jean was born to Jennie and Nicholas Stronski in Loreburn, SK. Her sister, Louise, joined the family fifteen months later; they were best friends and remained so until her passing. Their father worked for the railway which allowed the family to travel frequently all over Canada. That is likely where Jean's love of travel was born. Jean's family lived in several Saskatchewan cities and towns. Jean was a high school student in Plenty, SK, when she met David Willis, a young man who worked at the bank. The timing wasn't right and David left Plenty for a job elsewhere. Jean left Saskatchewan to attend teacher's college and then The University of Alberta, graduating with a teaching degree. In Edmonton Jean taught grade school full time and had a lucrative side job selling Beauty Counselor Cosmetics - she was always on the go. Jean had a sense of adventure and travelled with a like minded group of friends to various American States, including Hawaii, and drove all over Europe. It was in Edmonton where she was reacquainted with David and a year later they married on November 11, 1962.
The couple were living in Edmonton when they had both Leslie and Michael, sixteen months apart. Shortly afterward they moved to Toronto when David accepted a work transfer. A few years later Robert joined the family. The oil boom and relatives in Alberta pulled the family back to the West with a move to Calgary in 1975. A couple of years later, Jean noticed a lack of preschool options and decided to put her expertise as a teacher to work and started the very successful preschool, Learning Experience, with a neighbourhood friend. Jean also worked as a substitute teacher for both the Calgary Public and Separate School Boards before retiring.
In her retirement, Jean enjoyed golfing, hosting family visits and holiday celebrations, playing bridge, spending time with her grandchildren and travelling. She was able to continue her exploration of Canadian cities, parts of Europe including England, Ireland, Spain and Portugal (to name a few), many cities in the U.S.A., Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Peru.
Jean was predeceased by her husband, David in 2011. She is survived by her three children, Leslie (Tony), Michael (Beth) and Robert (Anna); and five grandchildren, Ali, Ben, Madeline, Oro and Calix; as well as her loving sister, Louise Leibel.
Jean lived a full life and will be missed dearly.
A Celebration of Life will be held at McDougall United Church (8516 Athabasca St. SE, Calgary) at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 1, 2021. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Jean's obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. We would like to thank the staff at Amica Britannia and Carewest Garrison Green in caring for Jean with the challenges she faced related to vascular dementia, over the past two years. In lieu of flowers and if friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta Division, https://cmha.calgary.ab.ca/ways-to-give.
In living memory of Jean Willis, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area.
Published on July 26, 2021 in the Calgary Herald
