Edna Mary (nee Grove) Kneller

May 5, 1929 - March 15, 2023
In loving memory ~
With gratitude for a life well lived, the family of Edna Mary Kneller (Grove) of Calgary, Alberta announces her passing on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at the age of 93 years.
Edna was born on May 5, 1929, to John and Mary Grove and was the 4th child of six. Raised on a farm 14 miles south of Castor, in the Sullivan Lake area, Edna attended the local one-room school. Music was a big part of her life with the entire family singing and playing the piano, guitars, accordion, banjo, violins, and mouth organ. As a young woman, she attended the University of Calgary and obtained her teacher's certificate. Edna taught grades 4, 5, and 6 at Ideal Valley and Painter Creek and grades 7, 8, and 9 at Beaverdale County schools in rural eastern Alberta. She married Oscar Kneller on July 12th, 1951, and was blessed with three children: Brian, Gerald, and Shirley. Edna and Oscar raised their family in Castor, AB.
After Oscar's passing in 1984, Edna moved to Calgary and bought her home in Parkridge Estates in 1996 where she lived for 21 years.
She was an amazing woman: a wonderful daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother ("GG"), as well as a musician, artist, gardener, crafter, and volunteer. Edna was involved in The Order of Royal Purple in Castor, which was the female auxiliary of the Elks of Canada and Parkridge Estates Community Association in Calgary where she was President for a few years. She was very active in the community by volunteering for many events and duties. If there was a job to be done, Edna always jumped in to help.
Her family was always at the center of her life and she was a dear friend to so many. She loved company and was very hospitable with a meal, baking, or a place to stay. Her guest book was full! She traveled extensively with friends and enjoyed many camping trips with her children and their families. One of her greatest joys was joining motorcycle trips to BC with her family and friends. She was the only one not complaining when it rained!
Edna's artistic skills were astounding and included ceramics, painting, and drawing. Her greatest love was painting and replicating almost all of the ceramic "Bosson style heads". Each Christmas, she faithfully painted individual Christmas ornaments for her family and customized them with their name and the year.
Edna is survived by her children, Brian (Brenda) Kneller, Gerald (Jayne) Kneller, and Shirley Kneller (Volker Erban); grandchildren, Darren Kneller, Andrea (John) Tipouikidis, Steven Kneller, Dawn Lovas, Jeremy Erban, Brianna Erban (Nik Kozub) and great-grandchildren, Amelie and Vivienne Lovas; brother, Ken Grove (Dorothy Kariga), as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Oscar Kneller, special friend, Bob McDougall, parents, John and Mary Grove, siblings and spouses, Alfred Grove, Stanley (Elsie) Grove, Don (Vi) Grove, and Dorothy (Leo) Pals.
We wish to thank the staff at Agecare SkyPointe and her companion, Martha Hunsaker who helped care for Edna during her journey with dementia.
A Memorial Service to honor Edna's life will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Parkridge Estates Mobile Home Park (3232 Burroughs Manor, NE, Calgary, AB). Service will be held at Parkridge Estates Community Hall (222 Burroughs Circle, NE, Calgary Alberta) which is inside the park.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories Direct Donation (e2rm.com)
Arrangements in care of EVAN J. STRONG FUNERAL SERVICES (403) 265-1199.