Alice (Kowalenko) Wald

With much sadness and heavy hearts the family of Alice Wald announces the passing of our mother and grandmother, Alice Wald. She passed at the age of 97 years on, Friday, July 28, 2023 in the Palliative Care Center at the Fairview Hospital surrounded by her family and friends. Alice was a resident of Fairview/Highland Park area for the past 92 years. 

 The Kowalenko family moved from Saskatchewan in the early ‘20’s for work in the Detroit area where Alice’s father worked in a car factory. Alice was born in Hamtramk, Michigan, USA on January 19, 1926 to Peter and Dora Kowalenko. Her sister Jean was also born there in 1929. The family was forced to leave Detroit due to the depression layoffs. In the early spring of 1931 with two small children, they made their way to the Peace Country to the Highland Park area west of Fairview where they started farming. Alice’s sister Sonia was born there in 1932. Her brother Ed was born in 1936. 

 As a child, Alice attended the Royce School and later, in 1937, her father donated some land on his farm for the building site of the Highland Creek School. Alice and her siblings attended that school which was a short walk from home. They lived so close to the school that they had to go home for lunch and by the time they did the dishes and got back to school, there was little time left to play ball. Alice said, “That did not go over too well!”  

 Alice met her future husband, Ed Wald, when he journeyed from Saskatchewan to visit his sister Katie (James)  Uhryn in Highland Park. Ed and Alice were married on July 25, 1948.  

 Alice shared a love of live music with her husband Ed. Together they formed a band, Ed on fiddle and Alice on drums along with several other players. Their band entertained for over 40 years throughout the Peace Country, playing at weddings, anniversaries and other musical events.  

 In March of 1953, their first daughter, Sharon, was born. They moved from Highland Park to Fairview in the late 50’s. Their first house was a half block from the hospital. Then their second daughter, Holly, was born in December, 1963. They needed more room so they built their second home about 1965 just south of the Flamingo Motel now the Hillview Inn. 

Ed and Alice’s greatest joy in later life came about when their only grandchild, Robin was born in November of 1992. She became the light of their life. 

 Alice was very sociable with a great interest in people. She was also a good salesperson. In her self employed career she sold Electrolux, Watkins, World Book Encyclopedia, Nutri Metics, McKenzie Seeds, Sarah Coventry Jewelry, Life Insurance and Tri-Wonder Marketing products.  She loaded up her Datsun Station Wagon and headed out to make some sales. She became well known throughout the Peace Country. 

 When they retired, Ed and Alice continued playing together at many Jamborees as well as volunteering their entertainment at many seniors’ lodges. Alice accompanied Ed’s fiddling on the banjo. Music and entertaining was always a part of their lives. Ed and Alice joined the Mitelka Ukrainian Dance/Performing Group participating as singers/actors in several productions. They played together until the early 2000’s when Ed’s health no longer allowed him to continue.   

They did some travelling and Ed and Alice enjoyed camping and fishing at Shaw’s Point with Holly and Norm. Alice liked hockey and baseball and was a devoted Oilers and Blue Jays fan. Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy were two of her favourite TV shows. In her last months, she enjoyed going for rides to Pratt’s Landing, Highland Park, Hines Creek, Whitelaw and other local sites in the area. 

 When Ed passed away in February, 2006, Alice decided to move to the Harvest Lodge, Fairview. She resided there from October, 2006 until her passing in July, 2023. Alice made many friends at the Lodge and served as president of the Happy Harvesters and ran the Tuck Shop for several years. In her mid 80’s, Alice took a seniors computer course and bought a laptop.  She enjoyed e-mailing friends and relatives and receiving jokes from them. 

 Alice was one of the longest-residing residents at the Harvest Lodge. She was always ready to lend a helping, and a go-getter. Alice will be remembered as a loving, kind and generous mother and Baba (grandmother) and a treasured friend to many.  

 Alice is survived by her daughter Sharon (Harvey) Stanich and granddaughter Robin (Gavin) Hawkes of Grande Prairie, daughter Holly (Norman) Hachey of Edmonton, neice Noel Armstrong (Bruce Barclay), great nephew Darian (Jenna) Armstrong and Toren, Finley of Fairview, sister in law Antoinette Kowalenko,Nieces Gail Lane, and Doris Tomko and families, cousins Alice Kowpak and Aldina Savoy, and other extended family and friends. 

Alice Lily Wald was predeceased by her husband Edward (February 2006), sister Sonia Kowalenko (April 2009), brother Eddie Kowalenko (November 2011), sister Jean Armstrong (October 2017), parents Peter (May 1980) and Dora Kowalenko (September 1992), brother-in-law Ian Armstrong (October 1992) and nephews Dean and Kevin Armstrong.

 The family would like to express appreciation to the Harvest Lodge staff, her “special” Home Care girls, good friend Marsha and the doctors and nurses at the Fairview Hospital in the palliative care ward. Alice and her family appreciated the many visits and extra care and attention given to her in her last days. 

Alice was one of a kind and will be missed very much. 

Cremation has taken place. A memorial gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023, 2:00 PM at E.E. Oliver Elementary School, located at 11204 104 Avenue in Fairview, AB. To join the service livestream through Zoom please use the following Zoom  ID:  729 379 8682    Pass Code:  123.  Immediately following the service, a luncheon will be held at the school. For inquiries, contact Sharon Stanich, or the funeral home. 

 Donations made to the Fairview and Area Palliative Society, Box 552, Fairview, AB  T0H 1L0 or the Happy Harvesters Club at the Harvest Lodge Senior Citizens’ Complex, 10400 108 Street, Fairview, AB  T0H 1L0  in Alice’s name would be appreciated by her family. 

Care entrusted to Peace Valley Funeral Home Fairview

780-835-3306

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