February 22, 1929 - September 27, 2018
Ida Amelia (Nichols) Hallett was born in the Cereal Hospital on February 22, 1929 to Charles and Eva Nichols. She was the second eldest, being followed by her sisters Doreen, Donna, Irene and baby brother Dale.
She passed away peacefully on September 27, 2018 in her Bedford room in Sherwood Park, Alberta with her children by her side at the age of 89.
The family lived in Lanfine, Alberta. Ida stayed in Oyen, Alberta to finish her high school. The family moved to Halkirk in 1945. Growing up on the farm, she learned hard work, importance of family and community. Ida followed the family to Halkirk and started working for the Royal Bank in Halkirk. She also worked for the Matthias's as a bookkeeper in Castor.
She met Gilbert Hallett at a community dance. They were married in Fleet, Alberta on July 17, 1949. They made their first home in Castor. They welcomed their first child there, Gordon was born on December 30, 1950. Followed by Donna, Jim, Jacky, Cathy, Debby, Brooks, Harold. Gilbert started his trucking career in Castor and they chose to move to the new community of Sherwood Park in 1961. They welcomed two more children Randy (1962) and Gloria (1965) to round out the family of five boys and five girls.
She joined the Castor United Church and the United Church Women's Group in 1949 and continued to be a member in the Sherwood Park United Church until her passing.
Gilbert's 21 year old second cousin immigrated from England in 1980. Ida took him under her wing and Graham Lunny became her 6th son.
She was involved with all the children's activities, attended hockey games, band concerts, Cub Scouts, Explorers and CGIT. She won the Heart of Gold Award for the Strathcona County.
She loved gardening and planted a vegetable garden until age 86. She enjoyed sewing and spent hours making us clothes, Halloween costumes and Barbie clothes. Gilbert and she loved camping with family and friends, fishing with her sisters. They belonged to the Highwaymen RV Club.
She loved playing cards, board games and played with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and her weekly ladies card group.
She was a wonderful Mother and head of the Hallett family. She was a good neighbor and cherished her friendships with her lifelong friends from Castor and Sherwood Park. She stayed in her home on 24 Pine Street as long as she could for 56 years.
She is survived by her children, Gordon Hallett, Donna (Marvin) Younger, Jim (Susan) Hallett, Jacky Hallett, Cathy Hallett, Debby (Roger) Sawatzky, Brooks (Liz) Hallett, Harold (Monika) Hallett, Randy (Shirley) Hallett, Gloria (Tony) Hallett, Graham (Wendy) Lunny, 17 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, her sisters Doreen Johnston and Irene Schilling, sister-in-law Wilda Nichols, brother-in-law Bob Hallett, sister-in-law Norma ( Peter) Poohkay, and sister-in-law Helen Erickson.
She was predeceased by her husband Gilbert, baby sister Evelyn Nichols, sister Donna and George Schilling, her brother Dale Nichols, brother-in-law Morley Johnston, brother-in-law Benny Schilling, sister-in-law Holly Hallett, sister-in-law Margaret Curcio, sister-in-law Mary Biggs, brother-in-law Tom Biggs, brother-in-law Vern Erickson. Her Celebration of Life was held on October 5, 2018 at the Sherwood Park United Church.