In Memory Of

Edna Theresa Bradshaw

Aug 6, 1937 - Feb 7, 2026

Service

Saturday, February 14, 2026
1:00 pm
Jesuit Martyrs Catholic Church
Township Rd 380 at Range Rd 41, 2km east of Evergreen Community Hall

Obituary

It is with deep love and profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Edna Theresa Bradshaw who peacefully left this world on February 7th, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Centre in Rocky Mountain House. She was surrounded by the love of her family. Edna was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear friend to many. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Edna was born Aug 6th,1937, in Red Deer, Alberta, to John and Anna “Mary” Leahy. She was the second child in the family and was raised on a farm in the New Hill area. From an early age, Edna’s life was rooted in a strong Catholic faith. She fondly recalled Sundays when her father hitched up the horse and buggy so the family could attend Mass at Jesuit Martyrs Church in Gaetz. This small country church held a special place in her heart because of its deep community roots and the knowledge that her father’s hands played an integral role in its original construction. It was there that Edna was baptized, confirmed, married and attended mass throughout her life.
Edna’s childhood was marked by hardship when, at just eleven years old, she lost her father, the family’s breadwinner. To support her children, Edna’s mother took a job as a telephone operator in New Hill, and the family moved into a tiny two-room telephone house. Though times were difficult and money was scarce, Edna often said she felt rich because they always had enough to get by.
Edna attended elementary and junior high school in New Hill and later high school at Condor. She loved sharing stories from those years—snowball fights that ended with “the strap,” riding her horse to school, earning the highest marks in the district in Grade 9, and gaining a “best friend” who would later become her sister-in-law
After high school, Edna moved to Calgary to attend nursing school at Holy Cross Hospital. She graduated in 1959 as a Registered Nurse and returned to central Alberta, where she proudly worked at Eckville Municipal Hospital. Edna cared for her patients as though they were family, and to this day, stories are still shared about what a compassionate and dedicated nurse she was.
Edna met the love of her life as a teenager. With the help – and a little bit of sneakiness – of her good friend (and future sister-in-law), May’s matchmaking efforts paid off. On June 25, 1960, Edna married Bud ‘Alfred’ Bradshaw at the same little Catholic church that she attended since childhood. They would go on to share sixty-five years of love and partnership.
Following their marriage, Edna and Bud moved to a farm in the Condor-Evergreen area. Within five years, they were raising four children, welcoming their first in 1961 and their fourth in 1965. Life was challenging in those early years, raising a family without modern conveniences such as plumbing, but Edna’s greatest joy came from being a wife and mother. She was overjoyed again in 1973 when their family grew by one more child.
Edna lived a full and hardworking life on the farm. She farmed alongside Bud for many years- raising cattle, milking the family’s milk cow, haying, running a tractor, tending a large garden, keeping the home and raising their family. Vacations were rare, and when they happened, they were often simple two-night tent caping trips in the west country. Later in life, Edna and Bud were able to travel and enjoy new experiences together, including trips to Alaska and Nashville, a cruise, and several bus trips which took them to several states and many provinces in Canada. There were also many fishing trips – never Edna’s first choice for entertainment- but as long as she was by Bud’s side, she was happy. She especially loved the moments when she caught more or bigger fish than he did, beaming with pride.
Edna was a woman of many talents. She had an artistic flair and a remarkable gift for drawing, especially faces. She was well known for decorating beautiful wedding cakes, admired for their elegance and detail. She was also a skilled seamstress and sewed many of the family’s clothes during the early years.
Two years ago, after sixty-two years on the farm, Edna suffered a stroke, beginning a long and difficult journey. Despite tremendous effort and determination, her dream of returning to the farm was not to be. Her final two years were spent at the Good Samaritan Center in Rocky Mountain House. Bud never wanted to leave her side, and in what the family believes were answered prayers, a lovely suite designed for couples became available, allowing them to remain together until the Lord called Edna home to heaven.
Edna was known for her deep devotion to the Lord, her unwavering love for her family, and her lifelong commitment to her husband. She carried an attitude we can all learn from—she never complained and always chose to see the bright side of life, even during the most challenging times.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the care team at Good Samaritan for the compassion, kindness, and support shown to Edna during her final two years. These extraordinary individuals made a difficult time more bearable and will always be remembered with deep appreciation.
Edna was predeceased by her parents John and Mary and her sister Lyla Riley (Leahy).
Edna is lovingly remembered by her husband Alfred ‘Bud’ Bradshaw, children: Theresa (Doug) Laing, Kathryn (Les) Neal, John (Joan) Bradshaw, Gordon Bradshaw, Raymond (Shaunna) Bradshaw; six grandchildren, Ryan, Michelle (Jeremy), Mariah, Janelle (Patrick),Sarah and Steven; three great grandchildren, Elyse, Juliet, and Lily and many extended family members.
A funeral mass service for Edna will be held at Jesuit Martyrs Catholic Church on February 14th, 2026, at 1 pm. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. Friends are welcome to attend.
Following the interment, family and friends are warmly invited to join the family for lunch at the Evergreen Community Hall. At this time there will be opportunity to share memories of our dear mother.

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