ELIZABETH ORBAN
1913 - 2011
Elizabeth Orban, beloved wife of the late Joseph Orban, passed away in Lethbridge on Friday, February 4, 2011 at the age of 97 years.
Relatives and friends are invited for Prayers at the Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Monday, February 7, 2011 at 7:00 P.M.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 10:30 A.M. with Reverend Patrick Furtado SAC, Celebrant. Burial to follow at the Taber Memorial Garden.
Elizabeth will forever be remembered by her loving son Joe Jr. (Dorothy) Orban of Taber; two grandsons Chris (Valerie) Orban of Lethbridge and their children Brance, Tayler, and Chortney; and Scott (Shelly) Orban of Calgary and their children Blake, Sarah and James.
She was predeceased by her loving husband Joseph Sr. in 2001; grandsons Todd in 1972 and Jerry in 1982; two sisters and a brother.
Elizabeth Packo was born in Bodolo, Czechoslovakia on May 24, 1913. She came to Canada with her father at the age of eleven and worked for her aunt and uncle as a farm laborer in Saskatchewan.
In 1934 Elizabeth married Joseph Orban at Lestock, Saskatchewan. Together they moved to Ontario and worked in the steel mills. In 1944 they decided to move to Alberta, moving first to Lethbridge, then to Barnwell where they helped farm. Their last move would be to Taber where Elizabeth and Joseph built a home and have resided ever since.
In their retirement years, Elizabeth and Joe were custodians of the Bank of Montreal and worked for her son Joe at JCST Sports and at the Taber Golf Club. Elizabeth cooked at the Taber Golf Club restaurant, and it wasn’t long before her great cooking was shared with many golfers who would call her “Grandma Orban”. She took great pride in her cooking and would be seen with a smile, happy to take care of the golfers.
Elizabeth’s greatest accomplishment was here family and she took great pride in making sure they were well taken care of and happy. Although she was taken to Canada at an extremely young age, Elizabeth kept in touch with her family at home in what is now Slovakia via mail and phone calls. A highlight was being able to meet new family members in 1970 when she and Joseph returned to their homeland for a reuniting visit.
Elizabeth had a great garden and worked it with Joseph as if it were a small farm. She took such pride in all of her work and the garden produced fantastic produce which she would turn in great meals.
Many years she and Joe Sr. could be seen sitting above the redline supporting the junior and senior hockey teams. They spent much time watching their grand kids play minor and junior hockey in Taber.
Elizabeth was a proud member of the Catholic Women’s League and of the Town of Taber. She always had a big smile and a hello to passers by on the streets and shops in Taber, making you feel important because if she met you once, she would never forget you.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Elizabeth’s name may be made directly to the Taber and District Health Foundation, 4326 - 50 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1N9.