Viola Oviatt Hudson

Viola Oviatt Hudson, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully in Calgary on Saturday March 28, 2020 at the age of 90 years. She is lovingly remembered by her beloved children Karren (Michael) Boone, Barbara (Max) Wiebe, Douglas (Andrea), Patricia (Leon) Bevans, Margaret (Elio) Ciavardini, Rodney (Jan), Steven (Karen) and Timothy (Rose), 42 grandchildren and 52 great grandchildren (and 3 on the way!). Viola was predeceased by her parents Mary Elizabeth Hatch and John Frederick (Jack) Oviatt; older brothers Clifford, Delmar, Conrad, Ellis, and John, older sisters Lila Stanford, Ona Marie Fernandez-Montes, Velma Rowan, Catherine Hudson, and younger sister Geraldine Smith.

Viola was born and lived on the family dairy farm near Stavely, Alberta until she was 10 when her parents moved to nearby Claresholm to work at the airport. She enjoyed having more friends, especially the cute Hudson boys. One year she attended a one room school her older sister Lila taught and another year attended high school in Edmonton and lived with her older brother Delmar and his wife Hazel. Education was a high family priority – spelling aloud to each other, reading literature, poetry, singing even while doing the dishes, encouraging hard work and sacrifice for higher education.

After graduation, she returned to Edmonton to become a Registered Nurse, then worked in Ontario and Provo, Utah while her sweetheart Blaine Hudson served a full-time mission in South Africa. Upon his return, they were married for time and all eternity on May 14, 1953 in the Cardston Alberta Temple. They lived for a time in Claresholm, then moved to Edmonton where Blaine earned a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and his Chartered Accountant designation soon after. Their first five children were born there; the last three were born after they moved to Calgary. Viola welcomed and loved each child and worked hard to nurture them physically, educationally, and spiritually.

She supported Blaine in his work and his many church callings doing extra things like starting the car so it would be warm on cold winter mornings while he ate a breakfast she’d cooked. He supported her in her callings in the Relief Society, Young Women and Primary organizations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ was paramount in her life and she relied on the Lord for inspiration in challenging callings. Her students and those who served with her noted Viola made church service fun for all involved.

She and Blaine served in the Cape Town South Africa Mission (1990-1993) and were temple ordinance workers for over 12 years. She was a good seamstress, a wonderful quilter and she made many aprons for her children and grandchildren. She was a superb cook and loved to try new recipes. Their home was a place of love and beauty where all were warmly welcomed – a refuge from the storm. She loved to read, and drive snowmobiles, the four-track, the waterski boat, and especially fast red convertibles! Our sadness is tempered by our faith in an eternal reunion with our dear Viola and her beloved Blaine.

A Visitation will be held for Viola at Pierson Funeral Home (4121 17 Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta) on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. and Thursday April 2, 2020 from 12:00 – 12:55. Please note that due to current COVID-19 restrictions no more than 15 people can be in the room at a time. A Funeral Service will be streamed live from the same location on Thursday April 2, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations may be made to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints LDS Charities (donate.lds.org).