Ollie Bertie

1924 - 2020

“The Woman, The Legend, The Big O”

 Olive Genevieve Bertie (nee Duncan), beloved wife of the late Ado Bertie, passed away in Taber on Sunday, September 6, 2020 at the age of 95 years.

 Ollie is survived by her children Monalie (Dennis) Nessman of Calgary and their children Chad and Ryan (Deena); Tom Bertie of Taber and his children Aaron, Michael and Kevin; Michelle (Brian) Holthe of Taber and their children Brett (Rachel), Mark, Ty and Chase; Mark (Esther) Bertie of Calgary and his son Jordon; Nanette (Ernest) Dupont of Taber and her children Spencer (Crista) Valgardson and Lace (Dean) Lutz. Ollie was G.G. to her great grandchildren Tatum, Emily, Ryder, Rylee, Frankie, Fisher, Vinny and Sophia. 

 She was predeceased by her husband Ado, parents Annie and Andrew Duncan, sister Jacqueline Duncan and daughter-in-law Monica Basque. 

 Ollie was born November 9, 1924 in Campbellton, New Brunswick.  She graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal in 1945. She came to Taber to nurse and met her husband on a blind double date; Ado was her friend’s date. They married on May 3, 1949. Ollie nursed in Taber at the old Taber Municipal Hospital while raising her children. Her picture still hangs on the wall of the Taber Health Centre today. In the early 1960’s she was co-founder of the Catholic Clothing Bank in Taber. It was among one of the first of its kind in southern Alberta. Later in life she joined Ado to help run the family businesses, the Palace Hotel in Taber and the Royal Hotel in Burdett until both were sold. 

 Ollie was a passionate and avid curler and took great pride in curling with her daughters all through southern Alberta. She was a loyal Boston Red Sox fan. As a matter of fact, when her children were young, she would send them all to school with their lunches, so as not to interrupt the World Series games. To this day, she treasured binge watching baseball on television with her grandson, Chad. Ado and Ollie also spent time on their fishing boat, fishing Kootenay Lake; always waiting to catch the elusive big one they named “Walter.”

 A celebration of her life was held when Ollie could be in attendance and visit with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed the cupcakes and Hawaiian chocolates with her tea and took a turkey sandwich with her when she left. 

 If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Ollie's name may be made directly to the Taber and District Health Foundation (for their palliative rooms), 4326 - 50 Avenue Taber, Alberta T1G 1N9 www.tdhf.ca.