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RESTA

Rilda Jane Leslie Resta (nee DeWalt) of Red Deer, Alberta, formerly of Rimbey, Alberta, passed away peacefully at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the age of 75 years. Rilda was a beautiful person with grace, class, and an intelligent nature. She had a wonderful sense of humour along with a giving and compassionate heart. Rilda offered a sense of fairness and expected equality for all. She was tender and gentle, but firm. However, she did have a 'Mama Bear' side to her. Rilda was hugely committed to her family, and was a doting grandmother and great grandma to many children, always making time for telling or reading a story. Her grandchildren brought great joy and happiness to her life. Rilda was a very social person and made people feel welcome. It seemed the coffee pot was always on with fresh baking just out of the oven. More often than not, these coffee times led to an upcoming mealtime. Her family was blessed to have a full table with always more than enough to eat. Rilda was always an extremely creative individual. She loved to read, garden, sew (the grandchildren grumbled if their pajamas were not sewn by Grandma), knit, crochet, and many forms of painting. She painted rocks, with many folks having one or two in their gardens. Thinking back, Rilda's favourite painting was with no paint... just a tiny artist's brush on the bare backs of her granchildren as they lay across her lap... imagining that the scene they had requested was exactly the one that Grandma was painting! Rilda also loved to bake and cook. Through the years, she designed and decorated many a wedding cake for couples from near and far, and was tagged the 'Wedding Cake Lady' by many. Rilda always endeavoured to support the activities her children were involved in, which led her to become the first-known female president of a Minor Hockey Association. Along with raising her family and working so very hard on the farm, Rilda also worked full time in town for Robinson's Stores and became the store manager. A quote from a granddaughter: "Grandma was a rare gem among all the jewels, and I am privileged to call her my Grandma." "Our family gives thanks that Mom is in the arms of her Heavenly Father." Rilda will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her beloved husband of 56 years, Silvio; her two sons, Silvio Jr. (Laurie) Resta; and Jordan (Mary) Resta, both of Red Deer; and her four daughters, JoAnne (Wilfred) Curtis of Red Deer; Judy (John) Ring of Hinton; Jacquie Sullivan of Red Deer; and Karen (Ed) Yetter of Blackfalds; as well as 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She will also be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her brother, Wilson DeWalt of Williams Lake, B.C.; and five sisters: Isla Miller of Edson; Ella Anderson of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan; Frances Courtney of Warren, Manitoba; Sharon (Jim) Potter of Likely, B.C.; and June (Adolf) Lehman of Chase, B.C.; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Rilda was predeceased by her parents, Harry and Ethel; four brothers: Charles, Mickey, Clinton, and Kenny; and two sisters: Dorothy Miller and Ethel Balon. A Celebration of Rilda's Life was held at the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 18 Selkirk Boulevard, Red Deer on Thursday, October 2, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Don Hennig and Pastor Peter Van Katwyk officiating. Cremation took place at the Central Alberta Crematorium, Red Deer. Interment will follow at a later date in the West Haven Cemetery, Rimbey. If friends desire, memorial tributes in Rilda's Memory may be made directly to Loaves and Fishes School Lunch Program, 6002 - 54 Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 4M8; or to the Central Alberta Women's Emergency Shelter, Box 561, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 5G1.

Condolences to the Family may also be expressed by email to: special_reflections@telusplanet.net

Service and Cremation Arrangements for the Late Rilda Jane Leslie Resta (nee DeWalt)

entrusted to the care of

OBERHAMMER FUNERAL CHAPELS

Rimbey, AB. 1-403-843-4445



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