We Remember
Consay, Zella Mae (Dodge)
April 15, 1919 — February 28, 2018
Our beloved mother, Zella, passed peacefully in Kelowna B.C. on February 28, 2018, after a well- lived life. She is now free from Alzheimer’s Disease which had her captive in her later years, years she handled with courage and grace. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Al Consay, in 2012 as well as her sister Dorothy and brother Osborne. Left to survive and remember her are her daughters Lois (Larry Kolmatycki) of Edmonton, Coleen (Jerry Shimek) of Sherwood Park and Norma (John Laing) of Kelowna, as well as 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
A farm girl from Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Zella excelled in school and sports and continued her education at the University of Saskatchewan and the Normal School so she could teach. She taught at Hilldrop School near Shellbrook, Govan, Blucher and Saskatoon. At Blucher she met a wonderful young man, Al Consay, whom she married in 1945. Their life together took them to Toronto, Saskatoon and Calgary, with a daughter born in each city. They built a house in Elboya in Calgary in 1951, sharing the prairie with three other families and hundreds of gophers. When all her daughters were in school, Zella returned to teaching, teaching kindergarten at “Happy Hours Kindergarten”.
Zella took pleasure in contributing to her community. She and Al were active in forming the Elboya Community Association and in the founding of Riverview United Church. Zella served the church faithfully as Sunday School Superintendent, Christian Education Director, UCW member and president, church board member and as a representative at Calgary, Alberta and National Conference as well as numerous committees. In 1976 she helped establish the Conference Lending Library in Calgary along with many other volunteers. She went on to work there part time until 1991. In addition, she conducted countless curriculum workshops around the province. The church was the hub of Zella’s life, next to her family. As her daughters, our interests always came first, and she and Dad gave us a wonderful childhood.
In 2010, Zella and Al left their beloved Calgary and moved to Kelowna B.C. to be closer to family. A year later she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Zella was dedicated, caring, adventurous, energetic, and fun-loving. She was very active at The Glencoe Club over the years, golfing into her 80’s and curling until she turned 90. She loved to travel and visit new places and cared about the people all over the world. She was a role model for her children and grandchildren and she will be greatly missed and forever loved.
Many thanks to the kind and caring staff at Orchard Manor who were so good to Mom over the past six years, and a special thank you to our good friend Elaine, who faithfully visited Mom and made such a difference to the quality of her life. A service in Zella’s memory will be held in Kelowna at a later day. If anyone wishes to honor her, a donation to The Alzheimer’s Society is a suggestion.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”
Location
A service in Zella's memory will be held in Kelowna at a later date.
Share with Others:
The Alzheimer's Society Link: www.alzheimer.ca
Condolences
I came to know “Zella” whilst waiting for my mom to have her hair done at Hawthorn where Zella seemed to share the same appointment times. Eventually my mom also moved into Orchard Manor and for four months I got to see your mom on a nearly every other day basis. Our conversations were one sided or silent but always always always Zella flashed her most beautiful of smiles. It warmed my heart and brought me to tears several times…. this sweet woman with the loveliest of smiles. She must have been a wonderful woman in her healthier days! We moved Our mom to a new care Home in April so I did not see Zella again but I thought of her many times after. I watched Elaine with her often, she gave your mom so much love and kindness – and Zella would flash that lovely smile again at the sound of “Zella Bella”.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have met your sweet Mom.
I volunteered & enjoyed working with Zella for many years – leadership training events, the Conference Lending Library, Camp Kasota, Conference committees & on and on. I had great respect & affection for her, and was always in awe of her seeming limitless energy. My sincere condolences to all the family. I know how much you will miss her, and I do too. Gwen
Lois, Coleen & Norma
We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of your Mother, Zella. Thoughts and prayers from our entire family go out to you as we share and remember many wonderful memories of Zella, stretching over 50 years, from the Happy Hours Kindergarten to the greens at The Glencoe Golf & Country Club and the curling sheets at The Glencoe Club. We smile in remembering your Mother’s energy, caring and sense of community. Bob, Claire, Bev & Barbara MacDougall
I’m sorry for your loss. Zella shared her beautiful personality with those at Orchard Manor and she will be missed! May you be comforted by the many memories.
Jerry & Colleen – so sorry to read about the loss of your mother. She lived a long life and very active life, but maybe burdened towards the end by Alzheimer’s disease. Our thoughts are with both of you & your family at this difficult time.
Gary & Rosemary Sargent
I was sad to read of Zella’s death. She will be missed. The obit was written with love and care. I knew her when she was working in the Conference Lending Library and I was in every week borrowing a book or two. She helped me to find what I needed and always did it with so much energy and care. She was appreciated for sure by those in Calgary Presbytery.
Sincere sympathy to all of Zella’s Family. I enjoyed working with her at the Calgary Presbytery Office and we covered for each other many times. I admired her energy and loved to hear about her curling or golf games. I also saw a lot of lovely material she had bought to sew items for her family. I have many wonderful memories of Zella and I know she will be missed.
Jane Borbridge
Our sincere sympathy to Zella’s family. She was such a hard and energectic worker at Riverview Church. She was loved and respected by all.
Our sincere sympathy to Zella’s family. She was a hard and energetic
worker at Riverview Church in Calgary. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew and worked with her.
On behalf of the Stephansons, I’d like to send my condolences to the Consays. Zella and Al were friends of my mom and dad for the best part of their lives, with Mom serving as one of Zellas bridesmaids in 1945. Mom was delighted to join them when they celebrated one of the big anniversaries (I think it was a 50th?) here in Calgary. Ida and Barney both died more than 20 years ago, but I know they would want you to know that your parents were fine people that they treasured to count as friends. I would add that when Dave and I arrived in Calgary in 1992, Zella was one of the first to welcome us to the presbytery, and was always such a warm encourager to us both. Zella and Al are both missed, and I send you prayers and blessings in this time of grief.
I met Zella in 1973 when I worked at Rosedale United Church. She was such a wonderful, classy woman. In my work as Christian Educator at Rosedale United (as it was called then) she was very resourceful and supportive to me. We always had a connection to the Dodge name. My grandfather was a Dodge from NS. I admired her ability to train Sunday School teachers and her perseverance in the work that needed to be done. I am so glad that Zella was in Calgary when I was just beginning ministry. She was a woman of grace, passion and deep faith. I will be forever grateful for her leadership and her friendship. I left Calgary in 1976 and lost contact (no email then) and now retired in Penticton it was with sadness that I read her amazing and very complimentary obituary to a woman who lived life with hope and joy and carried the sense of the Holy with her in her journey. If there is a memorial for her in Kelowna I would like to attend. With much thanks to you her family who shared the gift of your mother with so many. Linda M. Ervin, Retired Diaconal Ministry, Penticton.