November 30th, 1950 – January 11th, 2026
Edith Adelheid Furber died of complications from dementia on January 11, 2026, in Calgary,
Alberta, in hospital where her daughters and stepdaughter took turns being with her and
holding her hands in her last days. She was born on November 30, 1950, in Bern,
Switzerland, and emigrated to Canada in the 1970s, where she built a life filled with
adventure, family, and deep connection to her Swiss roots.
Edith was predeceased by her parents, Heinz and Louise Neuenschwander; her sister Silvia
Donini; and her beloved grandson Leo Noelle, who held a special place in her heart.
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Donald Furber; her sister Ursi Balmer; her
children, Jennifer Shehata (George), Jessica Lovasz, and Rebecca Noelle (Jonathan); and
the great loves of her life — her grandchildren Tristyn, Addison, and Seth Shehata, and
Rowan Noelle, who always brought her so much joy, even in the very end. It meant the world
to her to have her daughters and grandchildren living close to her and to be able to celebrate
special occasions with them, including a very special Christmas dinner with all of them
together before she passed. She also enjoyed regular visits with her daughters, going for
walks, attending concerts, and visiting farmer’s markets.
She will also be remembered by her stepdaughters, Karen Archibald and Lori Girvan, and
their families.
Edith loved the beauty of the world. She found joy in travelling, taking pictures, hiking, skiing,
camping, and admiring the mountains. She loved to grow things and was often tending to
her houseplants and garden even throughout the cold months, cultivating geraniums
year-round to fill her yard with colour in the spring and summer.
For more than four decades, Edith was a proud and dedicated member of the Swiss Folk
Dance Club Alpenrösli, where she worked to preserve and share her Swiss heritage. She
passed down her love of raclette, cheese fondue, Swiss chocolate, Swiss Christmas
cookies, and Aromat to her children and grandchildren — small traditions that will keep her
memory alive in the days to come.
Edith was involved with Wycliffe Canada in multiple capacities for over a decade. After
spending time overseas, she worked in their Calgary office, where she met her husband
Donald.
As dementia slowly took more from her, Edith held on to her faith in God. Even when she
could no longer speak or open her eyes, she would hum along to hymns, a quiet expression
of the comfort and peace her faith brought her.
A memorial service will be held at the Austrian-Canadian Cultural Centre in Calgary, Alberta,
on February 28, 2026, at 1 p.m. in the Main Hall. Anyone who knew Edith and would like to
celebrate her memory is welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Edith’s memory to Alzheimer Calgary:
https://www.alzheimercalgary.ca/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-now
The family would like to thank the friends, neighbours, and loved ones who surrounded Edith
with care, kindness, and dignity until the end, despite the heartache and loss that
accompanies a diagnosis of dementia.
