Thelma Corris passed away peacefully on Monday, January 2, 2022. After a couple of bouts with heart failure over the past 6 months from which she miraculously recovered, her body finally succumbed and she went to be with her Heavenly Father and the husband she loved and missed so much. She was 91.

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She was born Thelma Viola Young on March 29, 1931, the 5th of 8 children, in Craigmyle, AB to Earl Young and Anna Marie (Mary) Young (nee Hepper). Her parents were strong Christians who lived the scriptures. Growing up on a farm and in a farming community during the Great Depression, WW2, and the “Dirty Thirties” developed a strong resilience, endurance, and work ethic in her. She had many stories to tell of her growing-up years. She attended Western Pentecostal Bible College in North Vancouver and did children’s ministry. In 1955, she moved up to Whitehorse to help her brother with Sunday School and work in her brothers’ store. There she met George Corris who was filling in as Pastor at the church she attended and they were married in Calgary in 1956. They pastored in many locations – Fernie, Turner Valley, Calgary, Cold Lake, Napinka MB, Wiseton SK, St. Paul, Peace River, then later in Grande Prairie. During this time they were blessed with two daughters, Mary Ann and Muriel. In 1966 – 1968, Thelma realized her dream of becoming a teacher and attended the University of Alberta. She taught in St. Paul, Peace River, Hinton, and Grande Prairie.

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Thelma’s life revolved around her ministry as a Pastor’s wife and a school teacher. She was very creative with her resources and could produce amazing lessons from very little. Her creativity spilled over into sewing clothing for herself and the two girls, making things for the house, and painting many pictures throughout the years. She loved gardening and always had a large garden and beautiful flower beds whenever she could. She also made time to help those who were in need in her quiet humble way, whether it was a conversation, putting some extra veggies in the stew to accommodate a few more mouths, special prayer, dispensing wise words, or visiting someone.

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Her husband and her family were very important to her and as she started to acquire grandchildren and then great-grandchildren, they were the centre of her life. She babysat, home-schooled, taught, guided, prayed for, entertained, sewed and knit for, and fed them whenever she was needed and was there when the kids needed her. Right until her very last days, she was a vital part of the grands and great-grands lives.

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She is survived by her daughters Mary Ann (Roy) and Muriel (Sam), grandchildren Maeghan (Jonathan), Levi (Mayra), Amaryllis (Glen), Rhiannon (Greg), Jordawna (Shawn), and Caleb; and her great-grandchildren Daemyen, Noah, Judah, Asher, Alayah, Vincent, Erika, Layla, Austin, Lockhart, and Elijah; brother Stirling (Thelma) and sisters-in-law Doreen and Faith (Don); and many nieces and nephews.