Charlene Hickman

Charlene Joy Hickman passed away peacefully at Peter Lougheed Centre Calgary on June 13, 2021, after a lifetime of a dogged determination to do whatever she could to live life to the fullest.  Thank you to PLC and staff for respecting her wishes to fight for the life she loved.

Charlene was born with two holes and reversed chambers in her heart.  Simple activities that we all take for granted were many times harder for her, but she never let that stop her.  Despite open-heart surgery, and many other painful procedures, she wanted to do whatever she could to love life.  She already had so much to overcome and then two strokes paralyzed one side of her body.  Most people would wonder “Why me?”  Charlene, however, never complained.  She once said, “This is what I was dealt in life, and I have to deal with it.”  In fact, she always thought of others.  She remembered everyone’s birthday, and no matter how sick she was, we could expect a phone call from her.  When she just couldn’t walk anymore, she’d get in her wheelchair and make her way to the mall to purchase Christmas gifts for everyone.

Charlene was extremely intelligent, and quite gifted artistically.  She took drafting classes and enjoyed sketching and painting.  She also enjoyed skiing, fishing, camping, theatre, the symphony, and especially travelling.  She was headed to Mexico until sadly, COVID happened.  She was always on the go, and always plotting her next adventure!  Charlene lived at the Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre for 25 years, and although she didn’t like it there at times, she came to call it home.  We are so thankful to the staff at the Fanning for Charlene’s excellent care, planning of outings, arranging for volunteers, wheelchairs, and much much more.

Charlene loved to socialize, and had an excellent sense of humor.  She loved to tell and hear a joke.  Thank you to Fanning staff for providing jokes and riddles on the whiteboard, because she loved to pass them on.  She really was a special person.

We are devastated by her loss, and will miss her so very much.  However, Charlene can now leave her traitorous body behind and her pure and beautiful spirit will rise to Heaven where pain doesn’t exist.       

Charlene is survived and mourned by her mother, Carol Brown; Carol’s partner David MacSween; her dad Keith Hickman; her sister Kim (Shane) Hillaby; Lauren and Mitchell; her brother Scott (Lona) Hickman; Alex (Cassandra) Dadswell; Aiden and Jaxxon. 

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so on Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Evan J. Strong Funeral Services (5502-2 St SW).  A private funeral service will be held on Friday, June 18, 2021 with Graveside Service to follow at Mountain View Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army or the Mustard Seed.

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