DELLA KATAN (BANACK) passed away at the Good Samaritans Park Meadows, on Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the age of 95 years.

Della leaves to mourn her children:  Delbert (Denise) of Calgary, Deborah Morgan of Lethbridge, Kerry (Diane) of Lethbridge, Barry (Jolayne) of Lethbridge and Layton (Jae Jae) of Mountain View; and siblings: Audrey (Dale) Wilson, Myrna Olshaski, Lloyd (Edna) Mercer and Clayton (Diane) Mercer, and sister-in-law Kay (Ernie) Mercer. Della was the proud grandma to 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Della was predeceased by her oldest son Daniel and her brothers Ernie and Don.

Della Joy was born the eldest child of Marion and Ernest Mercer in the McNally district. Della attended White School. After graduation, she married Louis Banack, the hired man. She and Louis operated school busses that transported the rural students to White School for two years. Following that endeavor, Louis, Ky Coupland and Della and Danny did custom combine work that took them to Kansas. When the returned, Della and Lou purchased a farm in the Circle Hill area, east of Enchant. Della and Lou farmed for eighteen years. They left the farm and Lou became a welder and worked for Noble Blade. Of course, with six children, Della's life was fulfilled with being a mom and homemaker.

Following Lou's death from A.L.S., Della tried clerking in retail. Her last work place was as a caretaker helper for the Public School District.

Della met a gentleman, Pete Katan, and was happy with their common goals of travelling. They were married sixty days when Pete lost his life in an industrial accident. Della's years as a traveller did continue. She had a great trip to England, Scotland and Wales. After that experience, Della chose to travel Alberta in her motorhome with her dog, Cindy. Her favourite areas were the Kananaskis and Lynx Creek.

Della was an avid reader and enjoyed novels with a "little spice."

In lieu of flowers and in memory of Della, donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Society (gss.org/donate/) and choose Park Meadows Village - Lethbridge.

A Celebration of Life will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 - 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Friday, October 22, 2021 at 2:00 pm with Pat Siedlecki officiating. Please contact Cornerstone Funeral Home to RSVP at 403-381-7777.