"Ahcinaki" - Cree Woman - It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mom, ADRIENNE JUSTINE FLAMAND, at St. Michael's Health Centre - Palliative Care Unit, on Monday, November 9, 2020 at the age of 75 years.

Adrienne is survived by her daughter Kim (Alina); as well as grandchildren: Lukas, Braeden, Matthew, Faith and Zak; brothers Wilfred, Frank (Debbie), Rob, Lorne and Gerald (Marsha); sisters Geri and Helen and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Suzette Flamand and brothers Merle, Lewis, Francis and John.

Adrienne was born on April 22, 1945 in Brocket, Alberta. She left home at 16 and immediately joined the work force. She waitressed for many years as she moved around Alberta, even spending a brief period of time in B.C. She would never shy away from a hard days work, knowing that she needed employment to buy the things that she wanted. She married Ernie Bullock in 1974 and hoped to start a family. She soon found out that she was not able to have children of her own.

In 1976, while listening to a Billy Graham crusade on television, she said the sinners prayer along with him and became a born-again Christian. Hungry for the word of God, she attended many bible studies and prayer groups in order to learn all that she could.

In 1978, at one such prayer meeting, she learned that she could pray and ask God for things. Armed with that knowledge, she began praying for a baby. One year to the day that she first prayed for a child, she learned of her pregnancy with her only child. She gave birth to her daughter Kim in December of 1979.

Adrienne devoted her life to motherhood, but her divorce in 1986 would leave her penniless and  now the sole provider for her young child. She cleaned homes to make ends meet, bringing me along with her most of the time. She then got fulltime employment at the Salvation Army Thrift Store, where she worked for 11 years. At that time, she returned to school to acquire her Personal Care Aide certification in 2000. Mom absolutely adored working with seniors and their families, growing attached to many of them She treated them all with respect and great dignity.

After she retired, she continued to stay active with her grandchildren, her family and numerous close friends. She was never one to enjoy being inside for very long, and would go "puttering" around to her favourite dollar stores, thrift stores and tea with her friends.

She was always more than happy to show off pictures of her grandkids and tell of all the things they were doing. She was so very proud of each one of them, saying that God blessed her with five grandkids to make up for having only one child.

She loved to talk about the Lord and would engage in numerous thought provoking conversations with me

She was always thrilled to share a meal with us and watch a movie. Those times were filled with goofy laughter, telling stories from the past, and just an overall sense of joy and contentment. We will all miss her wisdom and guidance, ever ready listening ear, her faith and beautiful smile and infectious laugh.

I would like to thank the many health care professionals that worked so closely with Mom and I, Jack Ady Cancer Centre, Robyn with Home Care, Dr. Shukkoor and Dr. Walsh and finally all of the amazing staff at St. Michael's Health Centre - Palliative Care Unit.

A Celebration of Adrienne's Life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 - 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Wayne Boersma officiating.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, kindly RSVP your attendance to Cornerstone at 403-381-7777 or care@cornerstonefh.ca. Seating will be limited to 90 guests. Facemasks are mandatory and will be available upon entry.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Adrienne's name to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada (bcsc.ca/donate).