Obituaries
Donna Belle Coulter (MacDonald)
10/10/1943 - 01/04/2021
Obituary For Donna Belle Coulter (MacDonald)
October 10, 1943 - April 1, 2021
Donna Belle Coulter (MacDonald) passed away peacefully in her sleep at the QEII Hospital in Grande Prairie due to complications of diabetes and dementia at the age of 77 years.
Donna was born in Calgary and raised by her adoptive parents in Drumheller, she then married Lynne Coulter there in 1963. She was a hairdresser for 30 years before completing her GED, then the Office Administration Program at Grande Prairie Regional College later in life. She then worked for more than 10 years as an office manager. Donna and her family lived in Drumheller, Sherwood Park, the Ponoka area, and Grande Prairie as Lynne followed employment opportunities. Donna was a longtime member of Lions Clubs International- joining first the Ponoka Lioness, and then the Grande Prairie Lions when females became eligible for membership. She served as district governor in 1995 to 1996, and as a council chairperson in 2009 to 2010. She was instrumental in the development of the Lions Learning Centre in Grande Prairie.
Donna is survived by her husband Lynne, son Ken and his daughters, sister Patricia (Brian Stevenson), in-laws Eugene and Susan Coulter, Dawn and Donald Atkinson, daughter in-law Tammy Coulter, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, her son Rob, daughter in-law Tricia, and sister in-law Margaret.
The family offers special thanks to Riza and her staff at South Valley Residence, the staff at Valleyview Hospital, the staff at QEII Hospital, EMS staff and AHS Home Care staff for their care and consideration of our wife and mother.
Due to Covid restrictions, a Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
Memorial donations can be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780-830-7742 www.bearcreekfuneral.com.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a funeral?
A funeral is a ceremony for a deceased person prior to burial or cremation. A funeral gives the opportunity for family and friends of the deceased to gather and mourn the passing of their loved one, to share cherished memories and celebrate their life. A funeral is a vital first step to help the bereaved heal after the loss of someone special.
What type of service should I have?
If no pre-arrangements have been made, the type of service is entirely up to you. Services are usually held at a funeral home, community hall, or a place of worship. There is a wealth of different services, ranging from a traditional religious or military service to something a little more non-traditional. Our funeral directors are more than happy to work with you to figure out what would be the most appropriate.
Who are Funeral Directors and what do they do?
Funeral directors are in charge of all the logistics following a death. They complete all the necessary paperwork, make arrangements for the transportation of the body, and put into action the choices made by the family in regards to the funeral service and the final resting place of the body. Beyond the logistics, funeral directors are there to provide moral support and guidance for someone coping with death.
What if a death occurs away from my home town?
We are here to help, we can arrange to have your loved one transported home from anywhere in the world. We will assume responsibility and make the proper arrangements to have them returned to the community. We use the same organization that brings our military home when needed.
What is embalming and what purpose does it serve?
Embalming sanitizes and preserves the body; it also slows down the decomposition process and enhances the appearance of the body damaged by traumatic death or illness. Embalming gives time to the family of the deceased to arrange a service, and allows the family the option of having an open-casket viewing.
What do I do if I am not satisfied with the way a funeral was handled?
Funeral homes and funeral professionals in Alberta are licensed by the Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board. If you are unhappy with the way a funeral was handled or the actions of a funeral home in Alberta, you may speak with or proceed with a complaint process to seek resolution of the matter. More information is found at http://www.afsrb.ab.ca/ or by phone at (780) 452-6130
How much does a funeral cost?
The cost of the funeral varies depending on the wishes you have. The average cost of a funeral is between $5,000-$7,000, however, it varies greatly depending on the kind of service you desire. In general, cremation tends to cost less than burial. The costs include professional services including transportation, embalming and other preparations, the use of a facility for the ceremony, and the purchase of a casket or urn.
Can I personalize a funeral?
Of course you can, in fact, more and more people are opting for a more non-traditional personalized service. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate somebody’s life. There are many unique ways to celebrate life, let the funeral director know exactly what your desires are and they will honour your wishes.
Do we need to have an obituary notice and what is included in one?
It is highly recommended to have an obituary notice that’s either placed in a local newspaper or placed online. An obituary lets the public know that a death has occurred, and gives them information about the service. Obituaries generally include the deceased’s full name, age, city, and date of birth and the city they were living in when they died. It also includes the name of the deceased’s spouse, along with the names of anyone else significant in their lives, such as parents, children or grandchildren. Space may be limited in a newspaper obituary, but you may include a little blurb on the life and legacy of the deceased. An online obituary or memorial website offers you the chance to add a lot more about the deceased.
What happens if the death occurs in the middle of the night or on the weekend?
We are here to help, funeral directors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
Do I need to have an embalming
No, embalming is often an unnecessary expense, even if a viewing is desired. There are times when we would recommend embalming, especially if there is an extended gap between death and burial or cremation.
Why are funerals so expensive?
Funerals are labor intensive and require a lot of work from a lot of people. The cost of a funeral goes beyond merchandise such as caskets, it includes the services of a funeral director in making the necessary arrangements, filling out forms, and dealing with all the other people involved in the death (doctors, lawyers, insurance companies). Funeral directors work an average of 40 hours per funeral. The cost of operating a funeral home is factored into the cost as well. Funeral homes are a 24 hour operation, with extensive facilities that need to be maintained and secured.
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