Medgyesi, Edna Mae

Medgyesi,Edna Mae 

October 19, 1934 – July 4, 2024

Edna Mae Thibeault was born on a small farm near Big River Saskatchewan on October 19, 1934, to Mike and Ella Thibeault.

Edna left the farm when she turned 14 and went forward like a force of nature. She boarded with a family in Big River and worked at the Red and White store and moved to Kamloops in 1954 with a friend. There she worked in the kitchen at the Royal Inland Hospital. In 1954 Edna moved to Calgary. There, in 1955, she met the love of her life Stephen Medgyesi, and they married on July 16, 1956.

Edna began married life as a homemaker and children soon followed, Mark in 1958, Micheal in 1959, Wanda in 1962 and Corey in 1969. She was a loving mom to the end. 

From 1972, Edna ran a home daycare. Over 25 years she became beloved “Aunty” Edna to 35 children. Many started as young as six months old and stayed until they were 12. Many remained in touch with her over the last years.

If all of that was not busy enough, Edna loved to volunteer. She recruited and coordinated volunteer fundraising canvassers for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in her neighbourhood for many years. She was a member of her parish Catholic Women’s League. Edna was also a dedicated member of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE), becoming President of George Kirby and then Calgary Municipal and Alberta Provincial Chapters. 

When Edna and Steve moved to Strathmore in 1999, Edna volunteered at the Wheatland County Food Bank and joined the Ladies Auxiliary of the local Royal Canadian Legion. She continued to do phone call duty into her late 80s.

There was no job that Edna didn’t do within an inch of its life. There was no child that couldn’t be loved – her own always and forever, and the ones who came to her as Aunty Edna. She was a writer and a poet. In later years the telephone was her lifeline – she stayed in close touch with brothers, sisters and people who were her friends for decades. Up to the very end, Edna loved a good conversation, a good laugh and a good game of crib or dominos. We miss her.

Edna is predeceased by husband Stephen and son Michael, her mother, father and 9 siblings. She is survived by her eldest son Mark (Lynette) and his children Sara, Andrew and Nicholas (Kylee); daughter Wanda (Wes) and her children Michael (Tori and great grand daughter Everly) and Tyler; and son Corey (Anita) and his children Helena and Oliver.

She was a beautiful woman, inside and out, who loved to make everyone smile.

She had a long, wonderful life full of love and laughter.  She will be dearly missed.

Edna was not fond of black so please be free to wear another colour of your choice…she loved blue. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lung Health Foundation (https://lunghealth.ca/copd).

Edna’s Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday July 11, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (221 4 Ave, Strathmore) at 11:00 a.m.

To send condolences, please visit www.wheatlandfuneralhome.ca.