It is with great sadness the family of Luella Lewis announce her passing on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the age of 94 years. She was born in Olds, Alberta, 61 km south of Red Deer and 90 km north of Calgary and passed in Edmonton, Alberta.

Luella is survived by sons, Gordon (Deborah) and Daniel (Mary); daughters, Pamela (Ken) and Deborah (Mark) Macdonald; grandchildren, Troy (Jill), Shaylyn (Doug) Lewis-Saganiuk, Brooklen, Robert (Jaelyn), Dexter and Grace Macdonald; great-grandchildren, Claire, William, and Samuel; sisters, Rose and Louise; as well as her numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her loving husband, Keith; parents, William (born in Harrogate, England) and Hanna Merry (born in Okotoks, Alberta) Dawson; brothers, Lawrence and Leonard; and sisters, Lillian and Lila.

Luella met her sweetheart Keith in Banff, where she was waitressing at the K.E. Hotel. They were married on November 20th, 1950, in Olds. Luella and Keith settled in Calgary where they had two sons, Gordon and Daniel. While bringing up the boys, Luella and her youngest sibling, Rose took a drapery and slipcover making course together at SAIT. Luella and Keith later adopted two daughters, Pamela, and Deborah.

They moved to Edmonton and while Keith managed Chicken on the Way, Luella would drive the food truck and cook the customer’s order in the back of the truck. Just call 472-2222 (think of our modern-day food trucks). During this time, she also studied at NAIT, later graduating as a professional seamstress. After the company sold, Luella and Keith rented a full line dining room for three years while also opening a Burger Bar in the Edmonton, Kensington area and later County Farms in the Edmonton, Londonderry area. They discontinued the dining room to concentrate on specializing their burgers at their Burger Bar and County Farms fast food restaurants. They then sold the Burger Bar and County Farms and reopened up a Dairy Queen franchise in the same location as County Farms. For more than 40 years, Luella supported and worked tirelessly alongside her husband in the Restaurant Hospitality business, until selling the Dairy Queen and retiring from the food industry.

Luella’s family and friends were especially important to her. Over the years, she took in her sister’s three children while their mother was going through a very long illness. Luella also had her father and grandson stay with the family for many years. Many stopped over for tea and a chat, or to get help with sewing, knitting, needlepoint, crochet, and quilting projects. She was very accomplished in all these skills and friends and family to this day treasure the many gifts handmade by her. She was always there to help with family and friends in need.

Luella loved trying new things, such as belly dancing, aquacise, golfing and she even took a course on how to maintain a car, learning to change oil and tires. After retirement, Luella made many great memories traveling with Keith. Some of the places they had toured were Jamaica, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hawaii, Indonesia, Italy and Mexico. She had also enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise with her sister, Louise.

Another passion of Luella’s was volunteering with Keith at the Cross Cancer Clinic in Edmonton. She would take the refreshment cart around to patients undergoing treatment and their support families. However, Luella’s area of expertise was sorting the wool and needles donated to the clinic. The program that used the wool was called Busy Hands, where patients waiting for treatment would knit squares to later be put together. Luella’s job was to come in twice a week and put the squares into kits for other volunteers to take home and weave into blankets or afghans. Luella lost family members to cancer, and this was her way to lovingly give back to her community.

Luella will be remembered for her huge heart, compassion and kind soul who loved her family and friends. She impacted the lives of so many. She had a life well lived and will be forever loved and missed.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, January 20, 2023, at 12 p.m. at Park Memorial Chapel, 9709 - 111 Avenue, Edmonton with inurnment to follow.

The Memorial Service will be livestreamed: for those wanting to remember Luella, please click ‘Webcasting’ on Luella’s Book of Memories at www.parkmemorial.com.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Diane, ward manager 7Y and all the staff
at the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre for their exceptional compassion, devotion, and support during Luella’s stay in their care.

Memorial donations may be made to Covenant Foundation, 3C60, 11111 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5K 0L4.