Keller (Przybylski), Grace Helen
February 19, 1949 – January 16, 2013
On the morning of January 16th the angels came from Heaven to take a mother, a spouse and a dear friend from us. Grace was born in Fairview, Alberta, the youngest in a family of eight children. She grew up in a traditional Polish family on their homestead in Whitelaw, Alberta. Grace received her education at St. Thomas More School in Fairview, the General Hospital in Edmonton and the University of Calgary. During this time she obtained her RN diploma and degree in Nursing. Grace was employed in numerous northern Alberta hospitals. While working in Spirit River she met her husband Thom. For the next few years the couple moved to different locations finally settling with their small family in Drumheller. Here Ryan joined Kirsten and the family was complete. Grace continued to work in various nursing roles. One highlight of her nursing career included being one of seven Home Care Coordinators from the province to write the first protocol manual for Home Care Nursing in Alberta. A second highlight was a return to northern outpost nursing in Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. Here she worked as a nurse practitioner tending to the medical needs of this community. She loved the north and loved the people. She was a woman whose love for others guided her every step. Grace is survived by her husband Thom, daughter Kirsten (Gerald) Skocdopole, son Ryan (Shelly) Keller, three grandchildren (Grace’s passion and delight) Cassandra, Lauren and Preston, seven siblings, spouses, beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and godchildren, too many to list. Throughout her life Grace maintained a sweet and simple demeanor that won the trust and hearts of many. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family and friends carried her through the past three and a half years of living with cancer. The Funeral Mass will be presided by Fr. Mario Basque at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Drumheller, on Friday, February 1, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Drumheller Area Health Foundation in support of Palliative Care. 351-9th Street NW. Drumheller, AB. T0J 0Y1