March 7, 2026

By Obituaries on March 7, 2026.

ARAVENA, JUANA AURORA (NEE TAPIA

ARAVENA, JUANA AURORA (NEE TAPIA LABORIE) March 3, 1942 – February 4, 2026
Juana “Lola” Aravena, beloved wife of Manuel Aravena, of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the age of 83 years.
Lola, as she was affectionately known, brought warmth and light into the lives of all who had the pleasure of knowing her. She lived with compassion and kindness, and she will be remembered for her steadfast devotion to her family and the genuine care she so generously shared with others.
Lola is survived by her loving husband, Manual Aravena, her two sons, Mauricio (Mody) Aravena and Christian (Chris) Aravena; her daughter-in-law Krista, and her cherished grandchildren, Nolan and Sadie Aravena, all of Calgary, AB. She is also survived by her sister, Iris Tapia Laborie of Santiago, Chile.
She was predeceased by her parents, Elena Laborie Ramirez and Ernesto Tapia Del Rio; and by many siblings, as Lola was the youngest of 21 children.
Lola was born in Santiago, Chile, on March 3, 1942. She married the love of her life, Manuel, in 1974, in her hometown. In September of 1978, she immigrated to Canada, arriving directly in Medicine Hat, AB. There, she and Manuel raised their family and made their home for over four decades. In 2020, they moved to Calgary to be closer to family.
A loving and dedicated mother to Mody and Chris, Lola worked tirelessly to provide for her boys. Within days of arriving in Canada, she began working at Tops Steak House. Soon after, she joined the local greenhouse industry in Medicine Hat and nearby Redcliff, AB, where she worked diligently until her retirement. Her strong work ethic and determination were evident in all that she did.
Family was at the center of Lola’s life. She cherished time spent with her loved ones, taking camping trips, or, in later years, extended visits to Chile. She was a wonderful cook who expressed her love through food, joyfully preparing meals and welcoming family and guests into her home.
Her grandchildren, Nolan and Sadie, held a special place in her heart. She loved spending time with them, taking them to the park or making their favorite foods especially empanadas and sopaipillas and creating treasured memories together.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Father Lacombe Care Society, who showered Lola with love, care, and respect during the last four and a half years of her life as she bravely faced the challenges of dementia.
Lola was cremated in a private family ceremony on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
A Celebration of Lola’s Life will be held at the Reflections Reception Facility at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel (901 13th Street SW, Medicine Hat, AB) on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Lola will be remembered for her strength, generous heart, unwavering love for her family, and the warmth she brought to every gathering. She leaves behind a legacy of devotion, perseverance, and deep family bonds that will be cherished always.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Lola’s family at http://www.MHFH.com.
In living memory of Juana “Lola” Aravena, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes.

ROY BASSINGTHWAIGHTE

ROY BASSINGTHWAIGHTE 1938 – 2026 Roy Bassingthwaighte, beloved husband of Doreen, entered his Heavenly Home on March 2, 2026, at the age of 87 years. He is survived by his children Neil (Henrietta) and Nora; three grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. The funeral service will be held at Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel, 1 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat, AB, on Friday, March 13th, 2026, at 1:30 pm with Pastor Dave Shauf officiating. If unable to attend, family and friends are welcome to participate via livestream by logging in to http://www.saamis.com and joining the live webcast on Roy’s memorial page at the above date and time. A virtual guest book is available on the livestream page for those participating remotely. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.ca) 20 Hopewell Way NE., Calgary, AB T3J 5H5 or Tribal Trails (www.tribaltrails.org) P.O. Box 3030 Station Main, Prince Albert, SK S6V 7V4 or the charity of one’s choice. Condolences may be sent to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Roy Bassingthwaighte. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to
SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL
CHAPEL CREMATORIUM &
RECEPTION CENTRE,
“The Chapel in the Park
#1 Dunmore Road SE,
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 1Z5
(403)528-2599
http://www.saamis.com
inquiry@saamis.com
Locally owned and directed
CGR Holdings Ltd.

RONALD WRIGHT

RONALD WRIGHT 1960 ~ 2026
Ron Wright of Medicine Hat passed away peacefully at home on March 3, 2026, at the age of 65, with his sons and dear friend, Michelle by his side.
Ron was born on March 6, 1960, in Vanguard, SK, and grew up in nearby Aneroid. He is survived by his sons, Rob (Alice) of Ottawa and Greg (Lana) of Edson; his grandchildren, Janaye, Denis, Raydn, Simon, Eva, and Lincoln; his sisters, Linda Minor and Shirley (Claude) Picray and sister-in-law Carla. He was predeceased by his parents, Cecile and Robert “Pete” Wright; sister, Irene Boyd; brother, Arthur Wright, and brother in-law Len Minor.
Not long after losing his father at the age of 12, Ron left home at 16 when he found work in Regina. In 1979, he moved to Medicine Hat, where he started his family and a lifelong career in the oil and gas sector. Ron had the opportunity to work for several years in Russia and China, this time abroad provided him with a unique perspective on life and a greater understanding of the world; at Ron’s core were always hard work and determination. In 2000, Ron forged ahead creating his own trucking company. Ron and Michelle rolled with the punches through various economic downturns and the challenges of being small business owners, finally finding their sweet spot in the last five years of business. Ron worked right up until the week of his cancer diagnosis and admission to hospital, not wanting to be idle or let his customers down. Ron enjoyed traveling, spending several winters in Mexico and Hawaii, or cruising in his RV with his four-legged best friend Gracie.
Ron’s perseverance served as an example to his children and grandchildren, all of whom he was immensely proud of. Ron was an amazing father; his top priority was always his boys and ensuring they learned the important lessons in life hard work, family, and being home for supper at six, no excuses. He made it a priority to spend as much time as possible with his sons, there were many very memorable camping trips in the Rockies.
Rob, Greg, and Michelle would like to thank the healthcare professionals who helped navigate the last months of Ron’s life. They are eternally grateful to his friends who, upon hearing of Ron’s illness, immediately stepped up to offer whatever help they could. This is a true testament to the kind of man Ron was and the wonderful people he was surrounded by.
A celebration of life will take place in the summer, with details to follow. A private burial will be held in Aneroid, where Ron will rest alongside his parents, siblings, and extended family. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Ron with a donation may do so to A.J.’s Loan Cupboard ajsloancupboard.ca, (602 A Clay Ave SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3K3). To message of condolence you may visit http://www.pattisonfuneralhome.com.
PATTISON FUNERAL HOME
AND CREMATORIUM
540 South Railway St. SE,
Medicine Hat T1A 4C2

JOAN TAYLOR

JOAN TAYLOR October 6, 1950 ~ March 1, 2026
It is with sorrowful hearts that our family announces the passing of our cherished mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Joan Dianne Mackenzie Taylor passed away peacefully in Medicine Hat on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the age of 75 years. Left to lovingly remember her are her children and their families: Bernard Kobelsky, Clint Kobelsky, Melissa (Kelly) Bell, Brandy (John) Taylor; grandchildren, Chantel (Austin), Sabrina (Obee), Byron, Samantha, Cass, Myla, Dawson, Alyssa, Cory (Paige), Kayden, Wyatt, Rebecca (Benji), Gavin, Alex (Harlen) and Lelin; great-grandchildren, Jayce, Kegan, Havanna, Haylie and two more on the way. She is also survived by her siblings: Bob Hamilton, David Hamilton, Jim (Jan) Hamilton, Pat Smilie, Tony Hamilton and Steven Hamilton. She was predeceased by her loving husbands, Leonard and Blake; her parents, Campbell and Marjorie Hamilton as well as a brother, Ken Hamilton. Joan was born and raised in Moose Jaw, SK., residing there up to her Grade 10 year in high school. She lived throughout Western Canada before settling in The Pas, MB., where she raised her four children before finally settling in Medicine Hat. In July of 1972, Joan was married to her first husband Leonard Kobelsky, re-marrying in August of 1981 to Blake Taylor. In her younger years, she worked in various fields including child care, commercial janitorial services and acting as a head cook at various facilities. Joan was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She was a master of her craft when it came to cooking and baking, but her greatest passion was her family. Joan loved spending time with her loved ones, celebrating with both immediate and extended family. She was a soft-hearted, caring and sweet natured woman with a strong faith in God. Joan was a beautiful soul and was loved by many. A time of remembrance will be held at a future date. Memorial donations in Joan’s memory may be made directly to Diabetes Canada, 1000 -170 University Avenue, Toronto, ON., M5H 3B3. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting the funeral home’s website at http://www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is
Cook Southland Funeral
Chapel Crematorium &
Reception Facility
901 – 13th Street S.W.
Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4
Phone 403-527-6455
http://www.cooksouthland.com
“Locally owned & directed”

10
-9