Yvonne Rita (Copps) Gusdal

It is with profound sadness that the family of Yvonne Gusdal (nee Copps) announce her passing away in Calgary AB at the age of 85. She will be lovingly remembered by her six children, Annemarie Webb (John), Sharon Dudar (Steve), Gerry Gusdal (Myrna), Carmen Allen (Cliff), Michelle Gusdal and Ingrid Akar (Yildirim), 32 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren, surviving siblings Marie Lavoie and Michael Copps, extended family and friends. 

Born in Hornepayne, Ontario, the second youngest of a large loving family, Yvonne was predeceased by her parents Theodore H.E. Copps and Adeline (Olivier), brother Ted, and sisters Geraldine, and Evelyn. She grew up in various places in Manitoba and Ontario. She remembered with special fondness residing in Churchill, Manitoba amongst the polar bears and beluga whales.

Intelligent, artistic and hardworking, Yvonne earned a Bachelor of Pedagogy at the University of Manitoba in 1957, later a Bachelor of Education at the University of Calgary in 1973, and went on to a Master’s Degree in Education in 1985. She was a dedicated and creative teacher who had a long career in teaching, beginning in Manitoba and for over 30 years with the Calgary Separate School District.

While teaching in Erickson, Manitoba, Yvonne met Ralph Gusdal and they married on July 25, 1959. They started their lives together in Winnipeg and later relocated to Calgary where they raised their family. They retired to Powell River, BC in 1997 where they enjoyed several years watching the sunsets over the sea. They later moved to Kelowna, BC for a few years but decided to return to Okotoks, AB to be closer to the majority of their family. After Ralph’s death in 2016 Yvonne moved back into Calgary until her death.

Yvonne was artistically talented and pursued Fine Arts courses at the University level. She became a fine painter and leaves behind many beautiful paintings treasured by her family and friends.

Yvonne always found great solace in her Catholic faith and spent the last several decades reading, writing about, and practicing her faith life. She attended daily mass where she met many friends.

Yvonne had a strong affection for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her indomitable spirit and loving heart will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Anyone wishing to make memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can make a donation to one of Yvonne’s favorite charities:

The Missionaries of Charity

(Mother Teresa Order)

167 Aikins Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2W 4G1

*Please mark that you want it for Haiti and it will go to help Yvonnes’s niece who is a Sister in that country.

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