Yvonne Raitz

Yvonne Loretta Raitz (nee Cormier) of Canmore, AB passed away on Monday, March 18, 2013 at the Canmore Hospital. She was the beloved wife of Edward Raitz who predeceased her in 2000.

Yvonne was born in Bellevue, AB. to Henri and Sarah (Carney) Cormier and was later raised in Canmore along with her six siblings. Following high school, she entered the Order of the Sisters of St. Martha in Antigonish, NS. After reassessing her vocation in life and leaving the convent, Yvonne married Ed (also of Canmore) on March 5, 1942. Yvonne and Ed lived in Lethbridge, AB and Portage La Prairie, MB where Ed was stationed at the RCAF bases during WWII; in Edmonton while Ed attended U of A; in Thorsby and Leduc, AB where they raised their family and Ed pursued his career in education.

Ed and Yvonne enjoyed many happy years of retired life in Canmore and Penticton, BC. Yvonne moved back to Canmore after Ed's passing in 2000. She was admired for her kindness, faith, generosity and great sense of humour.

Yvonne will be lovingly remembered by many, including her daughter, Carney Wakaryk of Canmore; her three sons, Philip of Calgary; Ron (Urmila) of Mississauga and Dan (Karen) of Leduc, AB; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and by her brother Ed Cormier of Penticton, BC. Yvonne was predeceased five siblings; Helen Urwin, Ernie Cormier, Jeanne Marra, Germaine Tonkin, Lorraine Riva and her son-in-law Bill Wakaryk.

Vigil Prayers were said on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 in Our Lady of the Rockies Parish, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Canmore.

Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 also at Sacred Heart Church in Canmore.

Yvonne was a lifelong reader and, as a teenager, one of the first volunteers at the original library in the former "Y" in Canmore. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember Yvonne may make a donation, in her memory, to the Canmore Public Library, #101 – 700 Railway Ave., Canmore, AB T1W 1P4

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.