Lee Purdy (Zaruk) Noel

Lee Purdy Noel, beloved wife of the late Gordon Andrew Noel of Lethbridge, Alberta, passed away on February 8, 2026, at the age of 81.

She is the loving mother of Carla (Stuart) Parker, Michael (Karren) Noel, Lizanne Fernhout, and Deborah (Randy) Hackbart. She is survived by her grandchildren Dylan (Nerisse) Parker, Maya (Dylan) Dell’Oca, Hayley Parker, Kennedy (Victor) Arevalo, Madeline Noel, Jacqueline Noel, Camille Noel, Andrew Noel, Gabrielle Noel, Thomas Noel, Nicholas (Ella) Fernhout, and Jake (Alea) Fernhout, as well as her great grandchildren Asher Arevalo, Myles Parker, and Avery Parker.

She was predeceased by her husband Gordon Andrew Noel; parents Frank Zaruk and Margaret Purdy; sister, Barbara Zaruk; and great granddaughter Noel Arevalo.  

Lee was born in 1944 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Frank and Margaret Zaruk. Though she was raised in Sea Island, British Columbia, she spent summers with her extended family in Winnipeg, the place she always considered home. After graduating from high school, Lee moved to Calgary and then Winnipeg where she met Gordon, a pilot in the Canadian Armed Forces. During their early years together, Lee and Gordon lived overseas creating many fond and lasting memories. Eventually, they returned to Alberta making their home in Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge where they settled following retirement.

The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care provided by the many homecare aides, the staff at Chinook Regional Hospital, the physicians at Southgate Medical and Family Medical, the paramedics at Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services whom she became very familiar with, and the staff at the Fairmont Extendicare who supported Lee through her significant health challenges.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 13th, 2026, at 11:00 am, at the Fairmont Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment will follow at Temple Hill Cemetery in Raymond, Alberta.

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