Slaunwhite, Emily Blanche


It is with great sadness that the family of Emily Blanche Slaunwhite (née Shippelt) announces her passing on December 29th 2017. She passed away peacefully, after a massive stroke, surrounded by her loved ones during her final week of life. Emily was looking forward to Christmas Day and her family was very happy being able to enjoy the day with her, including a few hours of Christmas caroling in the hospital room.

Emily (also known as BaBa to her family) was born in New Hill, Alberta on April 16, 1933. She spent her childhood on the Shippelt homestead in New Hill as one of eight children, and daughter of William and Angeline Shippelt from Poland. She loved growing up on the farm where she developed a strong work ethic which she later passed to her children.

In December 1958, at a Christmas Party at RCAF Penhold, Alberta Emily met a young Flying Officer, Ronald George Slaunwhite, an engineer stationed on the base. After a whirlwind romance, Emily and Ronald married in Red Deer, Alberta on May 14, 1960. They started their married life in Penhold and as an Air Force family, were posted all over the country and the United States.

During their first decade of marriage, they had five children: Michael, Deborah, Patricia, Ronda and Donald. Emily had never ending energy, a wonderful sense of humour and always lit up any room with her warmth and smile. Her greatest gift though was being a mother and “Baba” to her family. She was the anchor of the family and provided her kids and grandkids with strong family roots/foundation and wings to soar. Baba created a loving family home which was always open to friends and always had an extra setting at the dinner table ready for an unexpected guest. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities including her favourite – the annual family cruises where laughter, memories and cultivating the family’s closeness was strongly present.

Emily was also a great ambassador for the Canadian Armed Forces, McDonnell Douglas Corporation and the Boeing Company as she accompanied her husband on business travels to all six major continents.

Emily will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 57 years, Ronald and their children Michael (Francoise) and children Makayla, Adam, Diane, Nathalie, Thomas; Deborah (Andrew Coombs); Patricia (Peter Verheyden) and children Nathan, Hailee, Jordan; Ronda (Gordon Hicks) and children Cameron, Derrick, Jeffrey, Jacqueline and Angela; and Donald (Mona) and children Sierra and Tristan.

Emily will be fondly remembered by her sisters, Sofie (the late Tom Gilks) and Helen (the late Len Lang), as well as, her extensive and loving western family. Emily will also be fondly remembered by her East Coast (Ronald’s) family, her brother-in-law Murray (Agnes); sister-in-law Sandy (Ed Shortell) and sister-in -law Fay (the late Len Slaunwhite) and all the eastern family

Emily was predeceased by her siblings Mary (the late Tom Klampski); William (Jean); Angeline (Cliff Embree); Michael (Eleanor); and baby Blanche.

Friends and family are invited to gather at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Saturday, January 13, 2018 after 1 p.m. Funeral Service will be held in the Sacred Space at 2 p.m. followed by interment and reception.

Those who so desire may make a memorial donation to the Ottawa Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Clifford Bowey School Foundation.

Rest in Peace Emily (BaBa) – we love you very much…