Obituary of Muriel Irene Abbott

Muriel Irene Abbott

1932  -  2021

It is with profound sadness that the family of Muriel Irene ABBOTT announces her peaceful death on 17 January 2021 at her retirement home in Primrose Chateau, Saskatoon, at the age of 89 surrounded by her loving family.  

Muriel was born to Annie (nee Drader) (1899-1982) and Thomas “Reuben” Smith (1882-1969) near Wawanesa, Manitoba, on 11 January 1932.  She grew up on the family farm alongside the Souris River with her siblings Clifford (1919-2008), Jack (1920-1988), Clayton (1923-2015) and Kathleen (1927-2020). 

Muriel met the love of her life, William ABBOTT (1929-2018), at a dance in Clear Lake, Manitoba, were married on 2 December 1953 in London, Ontario, and spent their honeymoon in Niagara Falls.  Muriel loved to travel and moved to different places in Europe and Canada, as Bill’s career in the military allowed this adventure to unfold!  After living a short time in London, Ontario, Muriel travelled with Bill to his postings overseas as a RCAF pilot at bases in England, Zweibrucken in Germany, and Marville in France. She gave birth to their two sons, Craig (deceased) and Greg, in France.  Muriel moved back to Canada with her family when Bill was posted to St Hubert, Quebec.  She gave birth to their daughter Penny in Montreal.  Muriel and family continued to enjoy postings to many places across Canada, including Penhold (Alberta), Gimli (Manitoba), Petawawa (Ontario) and Portage La Prairie (Manitoba). They finally ended their travelling adventures in Saskatoon upon Bill’s retirement from the RCAF in 1977!  Muriel loved the military life with all its adventures and close family ties with the other military families. 

While they lived in Saskatoon, they made so many friends some of whom meant the world to her!  She loved to spend her time with family with Sunday meals, picnics and walks with her grand-children.  She was often busy in the kitchen as she loved to cook. These family gatherings around her lovely meals was very important to her for maintaining strong family ties.  She was the glue that kept everyone together.  She had a nature that would sooth the hurting, and calm the worried.  She made time for anyone that needed to talk, listening to them with an open heart.  Muriel had the biggest heart.  Her smile was big and beautiful and she had the gentlest nature.  Shortly after she lost Bill in 2018, she moved to her retirement home at Primrose Chateau where she remained until her passing in January 2021!

Muriel is survived by her loving children Greg Abbott and Penny Alisauskas (Ray Alisauskas) and her three grandchildren, Justin Alisauskas (Chenise Petit), Joseph Alisauskas (Isabelle Baconnais), and Andrea Alisauskas (Clayton Raynard), all residing in Saskatoon.  She loved them dearly and was proud of them all.  She was blessed with a great grand-daughter, Aliyah Alisauskas (Justin and Chenise), whom she adored so very much, and with the exciting knowledge of a great grand-son (Andrea and Clay) due in 2021! 

Muriel received her Registered Nursing degree in 1953 from the Brandon General Hospital School of Nursing.  She along with so many other brave Nurses were at the front lines of the Polio epidemic, and Muriel’s courage during this time was a testament to her strength of conviction, compassion and character that would follow her for the rest of her life.  Muriel’s career in nursing was interrupted with the raising of her family but would continue intermittently as her devotion and commitment to her family was paramount. 

She was a member and volunteer with the Saskatoon YMCA for many decades dedicating much of her time here and was honoured through the YMCA for her selfless volunteer work in the fitness community teaching Aqua-Fitness. Muriel would often speak of the YMCA volunteers and members with admiration and love. 

The void that Muriel leaves is tempered by the joy she gave to her entire family throughout her life.   Her loving, kind, patient, gentle, compassionate, thoughtful, courageous, positive and generous nature will be remembered and honoured forever.  

 Her family deeply thanks the compassionate and dedicated staff with the Seniors First team for their care during the last five months of Muriel’s life.  They also thank the staff at her retirement home in Primrose Chateau for all they did for her comfort, happiness and safety.   

For those who wish, donations can be made in memory of Muriel to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. (https://www.heartandstroke.ca/how-you-can-help/ways-to-give).

Due to Covid-19 gathering restrictions a Memorial Service will take place at a future date.