March 8, 1941 - September 6, 2024
In loving memory ~
Deirdrie Sharon Grotkowski, most recently of Edmonton AB, passed away on September 6, 2024, at the age of 83.
Deirdrie's parents, long-time residents of Nelson, William John and Sarah Thompson Balding, welcomed Deirdrie a little bit early while on a trip to Calgary on March 8, 1941. Deirdrie grew up on Fourth Street in Fairview and attended Hume and LV Rogers High Schools. She married Ronald Corbett in April 1961 and they welcomed four children together.
As life goes, Deirdrie and her second husband moved to Salmo and then purchased a small hobby farm just outside of Ymir BC. Deirdrie's youngest daughter came along in 1972.
While raising her "Thundering Herd", Deirdrie began her decades-long career working first as a nurse's aide and then on the switchboard at the Kootenay Lake District Hospital. She retired from KLDH in 2000.
Deirdrie was always doing some sort of craft - knitting, ceramics, embroidery. She was very stylish and an incredible seamstress, sewing hundreds of dresses and blouses for every occasion. She was a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Royal Canadian Legion. The last several years were challenging ones as dementia took over her life. She moved to Edmonton to live with Jeanine and spent the last couple of years in the wonderful care of the Terra Losa Care Home.
Deirdrie is survived by her children Heather (David) Lenos, Bill (Sharon) Corbett, Deirdrie (Thomas) Leney, Jeanine (Kevin) Bonson and Vicki (Brian) Sapach, eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.
Deirdrie is predeceased by her husband, Alphonce Grotkowski, in 2000. Her family will lay her to rest alongside him at the Nelson Cemetery.