Obituary of Eileen May Heggen (Corry) (Johnston)

Eileen May Heggen, age 93, of Hanna, Alberta, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, August 17^th, 2021, at the Hanna Hospital. 

Eileen is survived by her children: Reg (Maureen) Corry of Hanna, Archie (Debbie) Corry of Netherby, Linda (Brian) Kollman of Calgary, and daughter in law Audrey Corry of Red Deer; Grandchildren: Michele (Chad) Corry, Angela (Jason)Jones, Michael Corry, Heather (Jeff) Beaton, Melanie (Justin) Stoppler, Shannon (Jonathan) Brunning, Brian (Brittany) Corry; Amanda (Shane)Derby, Conrad (Lauren) Corry, Bradley Kollman, Tyler Kollman and 19 Great Grandchildren. 

Eileen was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Blanche Johnston, Sister Edna and brother Rayford, sister-in-law Mavis Johnston, brother Fred Johnston, husbands Clifford Corry and Clarence Heggen. Son Leonard Corry, Granddaughter Nicole Corry. 

Eileen was born on the family farm 14 miles N. E. of Hanna, Alberta on Jan. 21^st, 1928, to parents Fred and Blanche Johnston. Eileen shared many fond memories of playing with her older brothers Freddie and Rayford and her younger sister Edna as they were growing up on the prairie. They rode their horse Brownie to the Alps school where they also participated in Christmas programs and sports days. “Those were the days” shared Eileen – “always lots of fun and games and sometimes even homemade ice cream!”  Eileen took her high schooling in Hanna and stayed at the dorm, but she loved going home on weekends. 

On November 19^th, 1948, Eileen married Cliff Corry at the United Church in Hanna. She moved six miles northeast of her home to the Corry place where the young couple started a full life of working hard on the farm and having lots of fun too. Eileen raised chickens, milked cows, and grew and preserved a huge garden every year. They raised 4 children, Reg, Archie, Leonard and Linda. Over the years, Eileen has shared lots of stories of raising those kids on the farm and the hijinks they would get up to. She admitted once that she even had to tie Leonard to the clothesline to keep him from running off so she could make dinner for branding. Eileen loved fun and enjoyed getting together with neighbors for cards parties, community dances, snowmobiling in the winter, sports days, fishing, and family holidays in the summer. Eileen and Clifford loved to travel and have fun with their friends until Cliff tragically passed away on Sept 28, 1978.

In1981 Eileen married Clarence Heggen and Eileen and Linda moved to his farm at Spondin. Eileen made many friends in the Spondin community, and they took part in all the community events.  Clarence and Eileen put in many miles in their motor home throughout the states and up to Alaska. They enjoyed attending the Brier, rodeos and visiting friends from around the area. They eventually retired to an acreage in the Stettler area and enjoyed many years of friendships and travel.  When Clarence passed away in 2001, Eileen moved in to Stettler where she maintained her many friendships and kept busy going for coffee with the gang twice a day.  Eileen moved to the Hanna lodge to be closer to her family and enjoyed the friendships and activities of her life there – especially the live music 2 or 3 times each week. 

Eileen enjoyed knitting and crocheting and her hands were always busy whenever she was sitting down. She even crochet the “Lord's Prayer” for each one of her kids.  She really missed her handiwork when macular degeneration made it impossible for her to do. Luckily, her family has many examples of her lovely work to cherish. 

Eileen was very proud of her family and loved when we all would get together for holidays and family celebrations. We are a large, rambunctious group and she loved every minute of our noisy gatherings. Eileen loved a good joke, a “snifter” every once in a while, and being surrounded by her family and friends. We will miss her dearly.

A memorial service will be held this Saturday, August 21, 2021, at 2:00 p.m., at the First United Church, Hanna, AB.

If desired, donations in memory of Eileen can be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or to STARS Air Ambulance.