Gladys Edna Jolly (nee Carveth)

On November 9th, 2023, Gladys Edna Jolly (nee Carveth) passed away peacefully in her sleep seven days after her 97th birthday.

Edna, known as Ted to her friends, was born November 2nd, 1926, in Grande Prairie, Alberta, to pioneer stock. Her father, Gerald Carveth, journeyed to the Peace River region over the Edson trail in 1912 via ox cart prior to the railway being put into Grande Prairie in 1916. Gerald married a schoolteacher, Gladys McDonald, and together they homesteaded near Grande Prairie.

Edna was raised on the farm with few luxuries. She was the brave one, escorting her older siblings Jim and Betty, to the outdoors outhouse during the night. Attending school was accomplished through a long walk, horseback ride or in winter a sleigh ride. She played softball with her sister, Betty, on the championship Twilight girl’s baseball team coached by her father. Her sister went on to play baseball with the All-American Girl’s Professional Baseball League during the 1945 season as a pitcher.

Edna attended nursing school at the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton after attending high school at Alberta College, graduating as a registered nurse in 1948. Edna had many roles during her career in nursing including District Nursing, both the Crippled Children’s Hospital and the Tuberculosis Society, various hospital roles, public health nursing serving rural Alberta then completing her career in mental health nursing. Edna’s nurturing nature was ideally suited for nursing.

Edna was adventurous and very independent. She proceeded to earn her pilot's license in 1951, only flying one flight after obtaining it.

In 1956, Edna married Richard (Dick) Jolly, settling in Edmonton, Alberta. Between 1957 and 1963, four children were born to Edna and Dick, first two sons (Neil and Glenn) followed by two daughters (Lynne and Ella). Edna was a devoted mother dedicating many years to raising her four children while somehow finding time to continue her passion for painting. Over the next two decades several moves would take the family to Medicine Hat, Vermilion, and eventually Bonnyville, Alberta.

With her children grown Edna’s independent spirit grew. She divorced Dick in 1985, and settled in the town of Stettler, Alberta, where she served central Alberta as a mental health nurse until her retirement. After retiring Edna moved to Edmonton, Alberta. Embracing the newfound freedom of retirement, Edna began connecting with old friends, volunteering, writing, public speaking, traveling, hiking and always painting. She traveled Canada and the world developing a real love for nature, especially the mountains. She joined the Elder Hostel program, traveling with friends, then becoming a speaker and hostess for them. Edna loved hiking throughout the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, and Alberta.

Her many travels would provide extensive material for her painting and writing in later years. As Edna aged and was no longer able to do the hikes she loved, her passions turned to public speaking. She joined Toastmasters International becoming a very proficient, much in demand, public speaker. Edna was recognized for her Toastmaster contributions as Area Governor in 2002-2003, and received a Distinguished Toastmaster award in 2005. Edna was also a member of the Edmonton Self Starters Senior Center, which evolved into the West End Seniors Center. After many hours of volunteering with the senior center she became president of the organization. In 2006 Edna was awarded the Minister’s Seniors Service Award by the Alberta government for her contributions towards improving the quality of life of Alberta’s seniors.

As the years went by, the task of maintaining her own home became too much and Edna moved into a retirement home, launching into a flurry of activities, attending classes in painting, writing, going to movie nights and live entertainment. She developed a large circle of friends who filled her days and evenings. Her children often commented that it was difficult to reach her because of her busy schedule. Edna’s painting skills were the envy of her fellow seniors. At art shows and sales her paintings were always in demand. She was passionate about sharing her creative talents with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

In the later years Edna spent a considerable amount of time writing about her life; her stories brimming with her love of life. She was collaborating on a book featuring her stories and art when she passed away. Edna swam regularly, keeping her active and in great shape until moving to the north end of Edmonton and giving up her drivers at 90 years old. Edna was painting up to the time of her death, having many pieces of art ready for an art show that is to occur in late November.

Her parents Gerald and Gladys Carveth, brother Jim and sister-in-law Lina Carveth, and her sister Betty and brother-in-law Jim Dunn predeceased Edna.

Edna leaves behind her children Neil Jolly, Glenn Jolly, Lynne (Glen) Barlow and Ella (Lyle) Hall; three grandchildren Justin (Meaghan) Barlow, Kailey (Hugh) Gordon and Michelle Jolly; and two great grandchildren Cooper and Jake Barlow.

She was so loved by all and will leave a giant gap in our lives.