Gladine Lee (Gilliland) Herrera

It is with profound sadness and love that the family announce the peaceful passing of our mother, Gladine Lee Herrera (Gilliland) on Thanksgiving Monday, October 13, 2025, at the age of 91. Thanksgiving, a day which asks us to reflect on gratitude is appropriate for looking at Gladine’s life story. It is with this gratitude, we celebrate the loving daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, auntie and friend Gladine was.

Gladine was born at home on December 12, 1933, in Fruita Colorado, the fifth of six children to Claude Madsen Gilliland and Verna Lee Gilliland (Minor).  She had a challenging childhood being born during the Great Depression.  Her family moved throughout Colorado spending time in Wiggins, Brush, Sterling, Redcliff, Fruita, and finally settling in Denver.  Many of her childhood summers were spent visiting family in Brush and Fruita.  From Fruita there were several car trips to Grand Mesa for picnics and picture taking.  Gladine attended West High School in Denver, and wanted to become a teacher but financially that was not an option.  Upon graduating in 1951she began working at Montgomery Wards.  Years later, Gladine would work part-time at this department store, in between the births of her children, and it would become the Family Friday night dinner place for Fish and Chips. Gladine met and married Edward D. Herrera, who would become her partner in raising their six children together.  After a brief time in a small rental, Ed & Gladine bought their first home on Winona Court in Denver.  Here, their little family would grow to include six children: Linda, Dan, Dave, Doug, Jeana, and Crista.

With her family growing, Gladine created a loving and welcoming home, having many of the neighborhood kids and little cousins running around the house.  Gladine and Ed spent many happy years living in Denver near their extended families and cultivated faithful lifetime friendships in the Mar Lee neighborhood.  Gladine stayed connected with many of those friends and families up until her health declined.

Shortly after Gladine and Ed’s youngest was born, Ed accepted a teaching opportunity in Canada.  In 1969, the family packed up and moved to Calgary.  This leap of faith has contributed to Gladine and Ed’s, as well as their children’s lives and friendships over the past 56 years.  Ed became a principal with the Calgary Catholic School Board and Gladine a steadfast homemaker. 

The family moved into the Thorncliffe community and lived there for a few years until Gladine and Ed made the decision to build a home on an acreage in Balzac Alberta.  In 1977, Ed and Gladine became the guardians of three nieces, Gay, Joy, and Merry Gilliland who were welcomed into their loving home.  They also opened their home to Lina Capone, who would eventually become their daughter-in-law.  Their home was always open if any of the kids needed a place to stay, or save money for a home, or a soft place to land to get on their feet.  The front door was never locked!

Gladine had a busy life raising children but also worked part-time in various capacities.  She worked at Sears in the shoe department, at a small kiosk at the airport, and then started her own business, Patty-Cakes, bronzing baby handprints and footprints.  She enjoyed the interaction with her customers and their babies and even bronzed the handprint of Theo Fleury.

Gladine’s large family was everything to her and it was what she was most proud of and what brought her the greatest joy.  She was Nan or “Nanny” to her several grandchildren and great grandchildren.   She enjoyed spending time with them, going to “Swim and Gym”, having dance parties in the living room, and having them over for countless sleepovers with endless “Popcorn and Movie Nights”.  As well, Mom loved being “Nan” to everyone and later would always encourage her grandchildren’s boyfriends, girlfriends, and spouses to call her “Nan”.  Mom was welcoming, always gave compliments and remembered everyone’s names and stories.

She had a generous heart and with that generosity came many gifts and cards that were well thought out.  Mom was always very supportive of her entire family and would often attend our numerous recitals, performances, sports events and award nights.  She was also a dedicated daughter and sister and made several trips to Denver throughout the years to help care for family and maintain friendships.

Gladine and Ed separated in 1999 at which time Mom left Balzac and moved to Lethbridge for a time. There, she moved three times but ultimately settled in a house close to her Lethbridge grandchildren’s school, which became their afterschool hangout.

When it became challenging for Mom to look after her house in Lethbridge, she moved back to Calgary where she to be closer to more of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She purchased a spacious corner condominium in Citadel and lived very independently for several years.  With Mom’s failing health and more complex medical issues, she moved to Sage Hill Assisted Living. Even though Mom loved how the family set up everything, it was a year of change and adjusting.  She made some new friends, but her mental and physical health continued to deteriorate and ultimately, she was hospitalized. After a long hospital stay, Gladine’s final years were spent at the Brentwood Inter-Care Long Term Care Centre.  Mom came to love her caregivers and favorite nurse, Harmondeep.  Although Mom’s health continued to decline, she was very determined to fight on and would often voice why she was where she was.  This need and zest for normalcy often allowed her to go to appointments, out for lunch or to one of our homes for a meal or celebration.  Mom’s last big outing was to celebrate her 90th Birthday.  Most of the family attended and she even joined the little ones to roll a ball down the bowling ally.

Mom’s final year had its challenges.  She definitely was a character and had some unique tendencies.  Even through her difficulties she still maintained her sense of humour, laughing at the comedy movies we would watch with her, one of her favourites being, “The Three Amigos”.

The Family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff, doctors, and nurses at Brentwood Inter-Care for their kindness and care, always treating Mom with dignity and compassion.

Mom was in the presence of loved ones when she passed peacefully.  Having a kind and generous nature, she will be remembered for her love and unwavering devotion to her entire family; as a devoted mother, doting Nanny, supportive Auntie, dependable sister and daughter, and steadfast friend.

Gladine leaves a legacy with her children; Linda (Mike)O’Brien, Dan Herrera, Dave (Michelle)Herrera, Doug (Lina)Herrera, Jeana (Travis) Dustan, Crista Ruzycki, niece-Merry (Brian)Bartlett, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of whom she was so very proud of.

Gladine was predeceased by husband and partner, Edward Herrera; Parents, Claude M. and Verna Gilliland; Brother, Junior Gilliland; Brother and sister-in-law, Claude R. and Mary (Tina) Gilliland; Sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Henry (Hank) Miller; Brother and sister-in-law, Harry and Mary Lou Gilliland; Sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and John Benes; Sister-in-law, Dorothy (Dot) Cooper; Father-in-law and Mother-in-law, Edward and Elizabeth Herrera; Son in law, Tom Ruzycki, Son in law, Greg Dustan; and Daughter-in-law, Zoe Zaluski.

Gladine will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Southern Alberta Brain Injury Society, or Children’s Cottage Society Crisis Nursery.

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