Karen Mary Hyde
May 7th, 2019
Karen Mary Hyde born October 22nd, 1950 in Calgary, Alberta, crossed over in the arms of her husband Kelly McDonnell on May 7th, 2019 at 12:45 am in the Foothills Hospital of complications after a brief and sudden return of cancer. Karen had been in remission from breast cancer and had spent an amazingly active winter skiing black runs at Nakiska almost every week keeping her husband Kelly McDonnell on his toes with her zest for life, dancing with the Saint Giles Scottish Country Dance Club for which she was President of the association, taking photography classes and enjoying yoga every week at YogaMCC.
Karen had an active and interesting life, where she was a ski bunny jumping out of helicopters, a respiratory technologist at the Holy Cross, an accountant with Brewster's Transportation in Banff, became a Certified Management Accountant (CMA/CPA), worked subsequently with Agricore (the Alberta Wheat Board), and was a executive and controller most recently before retiring with Enerflex. In recent years she had been training to become an aquacize and yoga instructor. Karen made friends, encouraged and inspired people everywhere she went and leaves behind a small army of those whose lives she enriched.
We will best remember her as an astonishing, lively and resilient woman who was also a wonderful friend, Mother, Aunt, Sister and Wife.
Karen is predeceased by her Father Delbert Bruce Hyde (1918-1994) who was an RAF Avro Lancaster Bomber & Navigator in WW2, and her Mother Ann Nancy Ferguson Cameron (1922-2007) an English teacher, and her twin brother Delbert Craig Hyde (1950-1983). She is survived by her sister Beverley Whitney of Mayne Island, her niece Dani Whitney, and her nephew Justin Whitney. She is also survived by her adoring husband Kelly Cameron McDonnell to whom she was wife, best friend, soul-mate, lover and co-adventurer, and daughter Brandi McDonnell and her children Rhiannon, Karyna, and Atticus Taylor, son Kole McDonnell and his children Keelan Slinn, and Kaylee Slinn-McDonnell, and her daughter Shonna White & husband Jason and their children Morgan and Connor White.
The family is planning for a celebration of her life in June.
Should you wish, instead of condolences with flowers Karen would have been very happy to for you to make a donation to your favourite charities, or the ones close to her heart such a AARC Animal Rescue, any humane society or the Women's Shelter.
Messages:
Karen and I were long time freinds. We traveled to England and Europe in the 1970's for a year. For the past, almost 50 years, we would call each other on our birthdays, she would always sing the song 'Happy Birthday to you'. We met from time to time at my house on Mayne Island BC and at times in Calgary. Ten years ago we were involved in a house she built in Victoria. She will be missed. On my birthdays I will remember her singing happy birthday to me.
Karen otherwise known as Minnie was my very best friend , although we were living far apart for past 30yrs, I always knew she was there a phone call away. We had many wonderful adventures together before we both got married, from "Touche town" at Lake Louise Ski area to heli skiing with CMH & the Yatze tournament that continued all the way from Lake Louise to Ensenada MX with us 3 girls camping in Minnie's vw van.....losers bought the winner a double scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream of their choice ...daily ! I shall really miss her, was so lucky to have her as my friend. She now can rest in peace & wait for the rest of us to join her.
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers.
Kelly,we are so sorry to hear this news. We are very grateful to have seen Karen and you in September. Please let us know when the celebration will be held. Donna, Dennis, Marcia and Colin Jones