February 2, 2006 - Calgary, Alberta

March 9, 2025 - Calgary, Alberta

Josephine, the cherished only child of Rebecca and Christopher Goundry, passed away holding the hands of Mum and Dad after an unsuspected short and savage illness, on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the age of 19 years.

Preferred pronouns they/them/their.

Josephine was a 2023 graduate of the Queen Elizabeth High School Gifted and Talented Program in Calgary; and a first year Philosophy Major at the University of Calgary.

They had a bright, enquiring mind and a lively imagination. They were also a kind, sensitive, and thoughtful individual, who was forgiving of mistakes made by others. They would persistently and firmly stand up for fairness and equality for themselves and others, even at personal cost to themselves. They were nonjudgmental and accepted everyone on the basis of who they were as individuals.

Josephine loved animals, especially their little dog Pandora, whom they adored and took such great care of. They had lively conversations with the magpies in the garden. They would move worms off the sidewalk and into the grass after rain to try and save them even though they thought touching them was a bit icky.

Despite being born and bred in Calgary, they acquired and maintained Mum’s English accent for their entire life.

They were a techy and shared with Dad a passion for the latest and greatest graphics cards and technology that he was more than happy to enable. They were an avid gamer. They played World of Warcraft with their friends. They were a staunch member of their online Dungeons and Dragons crew, playing with flair. They loved creating digital art.

They were a furry fan and had been developing their own fursona for years. Josephine was a reserved individual but would open up and talk and talk and talk if you sparked a conversation on one of their favourite topics which could be as wide ranging as a newly researched philosophical theory to the latest Marvel movie.

Josephine is survived by their parents, Chris and Rebecca who are originally from the UK and have been Calgary residents since 2001; and in the UK by their grandparents Joy and Peter Gostelow, and Dee and Eddie Goundry; and by their aunts and uncles, and their cousins Felix, Julian, Josh, Oli, Aaryan, William, and Rohan.

Fly off, little bird. This world did not deserve to hold a soul as gentle as yours.

Thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff in Foothills Intensive Care Unit, Foothills Palliative care team and the Dulcina Hospice for their many kindnesses in the last days and hours of Josephine’s life.

A Celebration of Josephine’s Life will be held at a later date.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the to Wilder Institute, Calgary Zoo, 1300 Zoo Road NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 7V6, Telephone: (403) 232-7774, www.calgaryzoo.com.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Josephine’s family here.

In living memory of Josephine Goundry, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.