Beryl Elizabeth Margaret Stephen May 22, 1948 - February 24, 2021 A loving Mother, Social Worker, Social Justice Advocate, Reiki Master, and Feminist. Beryl was born in 1948 as the 6th of 7 children to Bill and Bella Stephen. She spent her childhood growing up in Capreol and Horn Payne where she loved being in the great outdoors of Northern Ontario. She was a great swimmer and lifeguard at the local beach in Capreol, even saving a man from drowning. After high school she attended McMaster University for Social Work and swam on a synchronized swimming team. Beryl married Kay McKibbon in 1970 and became not just a Minister’s wife but an instant mother to Katherine. They had two more children and lived in a variety of towns across Ontario including Val Therese, Victoria Harbor, Sunderland, Toronto, and Metcalfe. She was a very spiritual person and loved to sing, organize community events, and help others. In 1986 she returned to Hamilton to finish her undergraduate degree at McMaster and went on to earn a Masters of Arts in Social Welfare Policy as a working single mother. After graduation Beryl created a home sharing program at the V.O.N. working to match seniors with younger people to help the seniors stay in their home as long as possible. A big part of her life was the loving second family and community she found at the Mennonite Congregation at the Welcome Inn. In 2001 she moved to Calgary to be close to her daughters Heather & Dawna. When her Calgary grandchildren were born, she was a big part of their life often taking care of them when they were babies and preschoolers. One of her happiest days came in 2013 when she was reunited with her beloved son Trevor, whom she had always longed for and along with Trevor came another granddaughter Hanna. Beryl is survived by her children, Katherine McKibbon (Marcel), Trevor Burgess (Deborah), Heather McKibbon, and Dawna Cutcliffe (Phil). She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Hanna, Josh, Noah, Chloe and Henry and her many nieces and nephews. She is survived by her sisters Sheila Brown and M. Carol Freeman (David), brother Peter R. Stephen (Karen), and sister-in-law Marcia Stephen. Beryl was predeceased by her parents William Peter Stephen and Isabella Stephen (nee Wylie), sister Judith Stephen, granddaughter Lily Cutcliffe, step-son David McKibbon, brothers W. Douglas Stephen and Murray K. Stephen, and her cherished nephew Graham Freeman. To honor Beryl’s memory donations can be made to Dying with Dignity or Nature Conservancy or if you prefer, just do something to make your community a better place. A special Thank You to her dedicated nephew Orrin Stephen, his wife Sandy, their son Douglas, and Beryl’s niece Rebecca Stephen and Tori the dog who helped keep up Beryl’s sprits during covid and joined us for a family walk on weekends. It meant the world to her and she was looking forward to when we could start again. Finally, a thank you to the staff of both Bowcrest Seniors Home and Newport Harbour Care Centre especially: Mayne, Lilia, Michelle, Neneta, Jerry, Belinda, Ranjit, Nancy, Rosie, Meghan, Monica, Mimine, Lorena and others who we didn’t meet. A virtual Celebration of Beryl’s Life will be held via zoom on March 6, 2021. Please contact family for details (Dawna – lifewithdawna@gmail.com). To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Beryl please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.