Obituaries

Judy Ann Palmer lived her life with creativity, determination, sharp wit, sense of humour and open heart that carried her through many transitions, challenges and adventures. Throughout it all she expressed her own unique spirit as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother for her large and blended family and through her own passions, from curling to painting to antique collecting and more.

Judy was born during the Second World War, on her grandparents’ dairy farm in Sutton Colefield, England on August 23, 1940. With her father away in the army, she and her mother then moved to her paternal grandmother's home in Brickstock where she lived until the age of 12, when the family emigrated to Canada.

During her time in Brickstock, Judy was enrolled in a public school, getting into all sorts of school-age antics with her girlfriends -- including secret trips to her best friend’s fish and chips shop -- until her grandmother Palmer decided that Judy should attend private school for more ‘appropriate’ company.

Her father Ronald, who’d returned from the war, decided the family should start a new life in Canada.

Janet and Ron first moved Judy and her brother Chris to Welland, Ontario but quickly settled in Fonthill where they bought a grape and apple orchard. Judy’s mom oversaw the orchard while her father started his carpentry business. Judy loved life on the orchard with a big barn for hanging out with friends and opportunities for grape picking with her girlfriend. Showing early signs of her hard working and entrepreneurial spirit, Judy would wash and clean the grapes before the girls posted them for sale at a fruit stand.

Around the age of 14 Judy and her family moved to West Vancouver in Capilano Heights where her father had a stonemason, craftsman, brickwork and cabinet making business. Ronald continued to look for opportunities and found a job building government radar sites in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He moved the family to Ottawa where Judy finished school, before she moved to Flin Flon to be with her parents.

While in Flin Flon she met her first husband William (Bill) McDougall with whom she eventually had three children, William, Scott and Susan. Sometime later Bill and Judy moved to Esterhazy where they eventually separated ways and divorced.

In Esterhazy Judy transformed into an avid curler, entering and winning many curling bonspiels in the smaller towns around Saskatoon, Rocanville, Esterhazy, Moosomin and more, even achieving the elusive 8 ender in one tournament.

Judy eventually met and, in 1975, married her soulmate George Olafson. Judy with her two boys (William and Scott), one girl (Susan) entered into a family of seven boys (Dale, Lynn, Dwayne, Lorne, Brent, Glen and Gary) and two girls (Marilyn and Shannon). Together George and Judy had one daughter, Jennifer, and over the years many grandchildren and great-grandchildren whose birthdays they remembered every year.

Judy had a passion for decorating, interior design and antiques treasure hunting. She enjoyed playing with wallpaper and texture, different colours and styles and continually looking for unique items. Judy also had a passion for glass with an amazing eye and a knack for picking out special and unique pieces from garage sales, estate sales, and antique stores.

Once the kids were out of the house, Judy and George bought an RV and started to travel and spend winters in Ocala, Florida. Down in Florida Judy and George would travel all over checking out the sites and antique stores. Judy developed a love for billiards and played throughout her retirement.

Eventually selling their home in Ocala, Judy and George moved to Medicine Hat. They traded Ocala, Florida for Mesa, Arizona and downsized their RV to a Pleasureway Campervan. They would camp around Alberta and Saskatchewan spending many weeks in Waterton, which was their favourite location. Judy kept busy in Medicine Hat buying and selling antiques and collectibles.

After George passed away in 2021, Judy moved to The Williston in Regina where she met many wonderful people and created some amazing friendships. People may remember Judy coming to the front door to meet people with glassware or collectibles that she had sold through marketplace.

Judy chose a living Celebration of Life, where family and loved ones traveled from across Western Canada to spend time with her and with one another, an example of how she lived her life, with joy, with a clear vision for what she wanted, and with the people she loved.