Mary Burnice Knechtel

Mrs. Mary Murial Burnice Knechtel (Keenan) passed away peacefully on September 2, 2012 at the age of 83.  She was predeceased by her father; Kenneth Keenan, mother; Fanny (King) and brother; Bill.  She is survived by son; Mark, daughter-in-law; Linda, daughter; Lianne, cousins, numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces, grand nephews, and 17 year old Mugsy; her dog.

Burnice lived a full and adventurous life.  She loved animals especially horses, birds, dogs, and cattle.  She started her life in Saskatchewan, taught school along the Alaska highway, lived on and around LuLu Island, Richmond, Haney, then Langley BC where she bred and raised chinchillas.  She then moved to Aldergrove, developed her first piece of property and built her first house.  After selling, she moved to Calgary, AB.  She bought and operated The Soup Ladle Restaurant and Catering business for many years.  During this time she bought her property west of Caroline and built her second house. The cattle she raised were her pride and joy.  Burnice bought and operated an apartment in Bowden and eventually sold it.  A series of life changing mishaps forced her to sell the farm and move to Airdrie for her last months.  She was a going concern.  She loved her Edmonton Oilers, country dances, worked hard, full of energy, and always “did it her way.”