Bryanna May Gillespie

It is with great sorrow we must announce the passing of our beloved daughter and sister, Bryanna May Gillespie, who was taken in a tragic car accident on November 19th, 2015, near Ponoka, Alberta. 

   Bryanna was born on December 4th, 1986 to delighted parents Tim and Karen Gillespie in Kelvington, Saskatchewan. Tim, Karen and Bryanna lived in Kelvington for the first year of her life, where Bryanna would often be found swooning the patrons in her parents’ restaurant with her incredible cuteness and big yellow riding duck. In 1987, the family moved to Birsay, Saskatchewan where they welcomed baby brother, Timothy Jr. The growing family happily resided there until 1990 when they moved to what became their home for many years, the Crowsnest Pass. Not long after their move, Bryanna's youngest sibling, Tina joined the family. Bryanna was a precocious child, bright, beautiful and full of life. She was very active in school activities and sports, from playing flute in the school band, to volleyball, basketball, skiing and snowboarding. She especially cared for baseball and was always willing to sacrifice her body to make the play. She was also known to be a bit of a pool shark. Her travels took her many places; visiting an exchange student in Japan, to Toronto when she saw Pope John Paul II, she visited Los Angeles, and took countless road trips across western Canada visiting many loved ones along the way. She cared for all animals, and volunteered at the SPCA.  Bryanna planned from childhood to be a hair stylist and achieved her goal in 2005 when she got her Journeyman's certificate. She predominantly made her living hairdressing in salons spanning from Lethbridge to Fort McMurray, but beyond working as a stylist, Bryanna excelled in many different fields. She worked in various positions in restaurants, pubs, dabbled in dry walling, painting, and even tried her hand at welding. Bryanna was pretty much willing to try anything and worked hard at everything she did. From a young age, Bryanna was always surrounded by friends, which of course continued into adulthood. Few people could connect with those around them as she did, whether it was one of her dearest friends or someone she had just met. Bryanna passionately defended anyone who needed it, especially those closest to her, but including complete strangers if the situation warranted it. She had a keen mind, a giant heart, and shone brightly in every room she entered. She had a large family, extending from the one she was born into, to the one she built herself. Bryanna had many friends across the world that can only be considered as soul family. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.

   Bryanna is survived by her parents, Tim and Karen; brother, Tim; sister, Tina; her beloved dog, Shalayla; her uncles, John and Pat Gillespie; aunts, Maureen (Wayne) Hagen, Lorraine (Ed) Hetherington, Marlee (Glen) Sherwood; cousins, Troy and Courtney Hagen, Stephanie Oxenrider; great aunts and uncles, Karen Gillespie, Marilyn Gillespie, Wayne Gillespie, Percy (Janet) Gillespie, Jack and Emily Currie, Bruce and Darlene Currie, Fern Underwood, Connie and Dave Reddicop, Jim and Donna Lock, Dale and Bonnie Lock, Ben (Aileen) Lock, Ruby Lock, Ruth Lock, Sharon and Harold Lyons, Val and Wayne Mayo; many second cousins and lots of honorary aunts, uncles and “friend-family”.

   Bryanna is predeceased by her grandparents, Ella and John Gillespie, as well as May and Milton Oxenrider, Kathy Lock, Allison Lyons; and uncles, Bruce Lloyd and Lenard Lock.

   A Memorial Service will be held at the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church (13126 – 21 Ave., Blairmore, AB) on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 1:00pm with Bryanna’s great uncle, Harold Lyons officiating.  Donations in memory of Bryanna will be gratefully accepted by the Thorpe Center (www.thorperecoverycentreorg).  Condolences may be registered at www.fantinsfuneralchapel.ca).

Fantin’s Funeral Chapel entrusted with the arrangements.

(403) 562-8555

 Service Information