Mabel Eleanor Witbeck

We are saddened to announce that our mother, Mabel Eleanor Witbeck, passed away on 24 November 2020 at the age of 92.  

 She is predeceased by her husband Teddy A. Witbeck, her parents John Moors and Florence (Elliott) Moors, her siblings Margaret (Merril) Adams, Mary (Peter) Dewar and Bob Moors and two of her children, William Ryan Finch and Laura Lee Finch.  She is survived by her brother John Moors of Ottawa, Ontario, sister Ruth Rollingson of Magrath, Alberta and sister in law Jackie Moors of Lethbridge, Alberta. 

We honor her life that was filled with laughter, love, kindness, service, forgiveness and hope.

Mabel Eleanor Moors was born in 1928 in Hamilton, Ontario to John and Florence (Elliott) Moors.  In her childhood Eleanor lived in many places in Ontario including Paris, Oshawa and Hamilton.  As a little girl, she loved spending time with her mother’s parents as they owned a general store in Hamilton. She had fond memories of all of the candy they would share with her.

In 1941 John Moors moved his young family to Magrath, Alberta where he operated his small business, Wool Carding and Spinning.  Eleanor and her sisters Ruth and Margaret would sing together and were a popular trio.

In 1947 Eleanor married Keith Finch of Raymond, Alberta.  Because Keith was in the air force their young family moved around the country with stops in Trenton, Ontario, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.  It was in Trenton, Ontario that she was taught by missionaries and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She was fond of the fact that she was baptized in the swimming pool on the air force base in Trenton.  After her divorce from Keith, Eleanor purchased a home in Raymond where she chose to raise her family.  That home was just a few doors north of her in-laws Cecil and Ruth Finch for whom she had great love and respect.

In 1968 she married Teddy A. Witbeck and brought together a blended family of 9 children.

In 1975 Teddy A. and Eleanor moved to their farm at the northwest corner of Raymond.  That place has been an anchor for her children and extended family.  First of July and Christmas parties, sleep overs and any excuse to get together are where we learned from her the values of love, acceptance and service.

She worked hard her whole life. She helped support her family by working at the woolen mill, and by working as a cook at the Ridgeview Lodge and the Raymond Home. She served in many callings in the Church throughout her life, including as a Young Women’s Counsellor, Primary Teacher, Relief Society Teacher, and Compassionate Service Leader for 15 years, all with kindness and compassion that can only come from one who loved the people that she served.

Together, Eleanor and her eternal companion, Teddy A. Witbeck, raised 9 children.  Teddy J. and Barbara Witbeck of Raymond, Alberta, Greg (Shana) Witbeck of Vernal, Utah, Paulette (Gene) Ganz of Raymond, Alberta, Cecil (Dianne) Finch of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Mary Lou Lockridge of Edmonton, Alberta, Jo-Anne Finch of Lethbridge, Alberta, Margy Witbeck of Raymond, Alberta and Teddy (Cathy) Witbeck of Cottonwood Heights, Utah. 

Teddy A. and Eleanor have 28 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. Including Teddy A., Eleanor and their 9 children, that makes 100 in the family.

A private family Funeral Service will be held on November 30, 2020 in Raymond, AB. 

 The family plans to have one of her First of July style parties in the summer of 2021 so we can get together and celebrate her life.

Live stream of the Funeral Service will be available starting at 10:45 AM on Monday, November 30, 2020. The link will appear beneath the obituary on the Christensen Salmon Generations website. www.generationsfh.ca

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mabel Eleanor Witbeck, please visit our floral store.