Obituary of Lillian Heather Wiberg
Lillian Heather Wiberg
(May 15, 1939 - July 18, 2023)
Lillian Wiberg passed on to her eternal home on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at the age of 84 years.
Lillian Heather was born on May 15, 1939, to Henry and Mary Pederson of Bawlf, Alberta. She grew up on the family farm there with her older brother Harvey. Growing up on the farm, Lillian cultivated a love for gardening with her beloved mother and a love for animals from her father. Her dad even allowed her to keep a pet skunk she rescued.
In 1957, at the age of eighteen, Lillian enrolled in a one-year program at a junior college on the U of A campus in Edmonton and trained to be a teacher. She first taught in Armena and then Bawlf. In 1965 she was hired by the Catholic School Board to teach at St Pat’s in Camrose. Here she would teach grade two for a total of 20 years until her retirement in 1985. Up until her death, Lillian had many former students tell her that she was ‘my favorite teacher.’ This was a phrase she heard often. And remarkably, she remembered fondly each one of her students. Teaching was her passion, her gifting, and a career that brought her incredible joy.
In 1977, Lillian became a wife and a mother when she married the love of her life, Melvin Wiberg, a widower with four teenagers. They were married on February 5, 1977, in New Norway and spent the next 36 years madly in love until Mel’s passing in 2013. This period of time would be the happiest days of Lillian’s life. You would never see her without her beloved Mel and the two of them could be seen around town, holding hands and in matching outfits. They relished their annual trips to Las Vegas during the winter and loved gardening on the farm in the summer. They were truly two lovebirds.
In recent years Lillian’s health had declined and she spoke often of her wish to reunite with her beloved Mel in heaven.
Lillian is survived by her children, Dale (Heather) Wiberg, Doreen (Darcy) Thompson, and Colleen Schneider; twelve grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; her brother Harvey (Mildred) Pederson; and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Lillian was predeceased by her beloved husband, Melvin Wiberg; and her eldest daughter, Marlene Pollock.
A Celebration of Life was held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at the CityLights Church, 4920 48 Street Camrose officiated by Pastor Jeremy Osterwalder.
If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Lillian's memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.
The children of Lillian Wiberg would like to thank the amazing staff of Seasons Lodge and Camrose Home Care for their compassionate care of our mom especially in this last year.
