Nancy Knechtel

Nancy passed away peacefully in Banff with her daughters Kirsten and Anya, her beloved partner Thor, and her sister Jane at her side. Nancy was courageous, determined and incredibly strong throughout her prolonged struggle with cancer, and her beautiful heart shone through until the end. She fulfilled her special wish of spending a wonderful Christmas with her daughters and their families, including her grandchildren Kael and Selah.

Nancy was born to Claire and John Parker in Yellowknife, NWT.

In their early years, the family lived on Jolliffe Island, Great Slave Lake. They would canoe to Yellowknife in the summer months and walk across the ice in winter. Such experiences forged Nancy's adventurous spirit from an early age, and her brother Jay and sister Jane hold many memories of her antics throughout their Yellowknife years.

In 1958, Nancy travelled by cargo ship with her family up the BC coast to Skagway and then onwards by train to Whitehorse, where her father served as a Territorial Court judge. After graduating from FH Collins High, Nancy left Whitehorse to pursue a BSc in Nursing from the University of Alberta. Her enduring love of the North was reflected in her colourful stories of northern life, Inuit prints and soapstone carvings that were among her most treasured possessions, and excursions to reconnect with the people and landscapes of her childhood.

While at the University of Alberta, Nancy formed lifelong friendships with her nursing colleagues. Her nursing reunions were akin to a pilgrimage; Nancy infamously suggested to her daughter, Anya, that she should ensure her wedding date would not conflict with the 2006 reunion

(Anya complied in half-fear that her mother would not opt for the wedding). U of A was also where Nancy met John Knechtel, a young dental student from Calgary. John's joyful embrace of life, warmth and witty humour won Nancy over.

In 1969, shortly after graduating, Nancy and John married in Vancouver. Soon after, they moved to Germany to work as civilian medical staff on the Canadian Forces base in Baden Baden. In truth, their travel aspirations outweighed their work ambitions. They maximized their time hiking, exploring, and sampling local vintages throughout Europe.

Yet it was the birth of their daughter, Kirsten, that was the highlight of their time in Germany. In 1975, John was offered a position with a dental office in Banff, which set the course for a new adventure.

In Banff, the Knechtels connected with families that shared their passion for mountain life. They also welcomed their second daughter, Anya, into their loving family. Together, the Knechtels enjoyed hiking, backcountry touring and skiing. Nancy was a tireless volunteer at ski races, community events, and as a canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Foundation. As an extension of her unconditional love for her daughters, Nancy opened their home to many young friends and fostered their sense of belonging. She shared many laughs, fun, and tears with her close knit group of girlfriends in Banff, yet always found time to help and connect with people in her community.

When John died in 1997 after a long battle with leukemia, Nancy's strength and love enabled her family to move forward. Nancy refreshed her nursing degree and worked as a homecare nurse for several years. She embraced her growing family, welcoming Kirsten's husband Chad Rigby and Anya's husband Marlo Raynolds into her clan. Nancy became the adored grandmother of Kael and Selah, of whom she was obsessively proud. Through her daughters and grandchildren, her loving and kind spirit will live on.

In 2000, Nancy met James Thorsell (Thor), who had recently retired as a conservation biologist advising on World Heritage sites. Their shared interest in travel, hiking and enjoying life together led them to remote regions of China, Antarctica, Patagonia, Galapagos, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Yet while they loved to travel, curating beautiful spaces to call home was also intensely important to Nancy. In addition to their home in Banff, they found an ideal retreat on the edge of the Columbia Wetlands where they enjoyed countless evenings birdwatching from the balcony in the company of friends.

Nancy and Thor spent many winters in Ajijic, Mexico, where Nancy's magnetic personality led to wonderful friendships and memories. While in Ajijic, Nancy blossomed as an artist. Her oil paintings became coveted artworks among her friends and family. Nancy and Thor eventually shifted their winter sojourns to Loreto Bay, Baja, where they forged new friendships and community. In both Ajijic and Loreto, Nancy volunteered with organizations dedicated to improving the lives of local children. This winter, Nancy asked Thor to return to Loreto in hopes of joining him when her health improved. Despite their persistent hope, Nancy's health deteriorated before she was able to return.

For Thor, the heartbreak of her parting weighs heavily,

as

"she was my rock and enduring love of my life."

We wish to thank the staff at the Banff/Canmore Cancer Clinic, the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, and the Bear Street Family Physicians for their compassionate care throughout Nancy's illness. We also thank her amazing network of friends for the love and support they offered throughout her journey; we are forever grateful.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Nancy to the

Banff-Canmore Community Foundation

or the

Alberta Cancer Foundation (Designation: Banff/Canmore Cancer Center)

would be appreciated.

A memorial for Nancy will be held in Banff in the spring.

Details will be posted when available.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.