Fulltime Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Family Member/Leader, and Friend; no matter what else she may have been doing these relationships always came first for Ursula.
First born of Gus and Gertrude Nagel, born on the farm at LaGlace, Alberta and raised in the Woking area. As with a lot of the people of Ursula’s generation much of her childhood was spent working around the home and on the farm with her family performing chores and helping with her two younger brothers Hartmann and Hans.
When she finished High School in Spirit River she travelled to Vancouver and obtained her degree as a psychiatric nurse. Upon graduation she returned to Alberta to visit her parents and met a brash and dashing young man by the name of Len McAvany. The two fell in love and married and started a family of their own. They had Five (5) children: Lorraine, Kathleen, Marianne, Lee, and Ian. Ursula and Len made the decision that Ursula would stay at home to be a full time home-maker and that she did exceptionally well, creating a home that was full of love and laughter and a haven for lost souls.
Ursula was an outgoing person who volunteered at the school, at the Legion, and wherever her assistance was needed. She was always there for family and friends to listen, provide guidance if asked for, cry with, and always to provide a loving environment, as a result she forged many deep and loving relationships with family members and friends wherever she went.
Ursula took great pride in watching her family grow. She was proud of her children, partners, their children and partners and great grandchildren. She would cheer their accomplishments, and be there to listen about how their day or week went. They will all miss the phone calls that ended with "I love you".
Ursula was there to stand up for the less privileged or the under-dog. Long before laws came into being to protect people from bullying, Ursula was in the forefront advocating equal rights and protection for all from cruelty and bullying. She would be the one at the social gathering to approach perfect strangers to make them feel comfortable and welcome. Her heart and home was always open to those that wanted to enter. She was also fiercely loyal and protective of her family and friends and could always be depended on to defend them and provide them with life lessons if they required them. Ursula was never too busy for family and friends and made sure that they all knew that her home was their home.
There was a lot of love in Ursula’s life and though physically she has left us and joined Len, her legacy of love and kindness will live on thru her family and friends.
Ursula was pre-deceased by her husband Len McAvany in 2008, her parents, Gus and Gertrude Nagel, her Son in law’s JR and Ron, many extended family members and friends. She leaves to remember her with love her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren: Lorraine (Rick)(Lorraine’s children: Trevor (Talia, Trinity, Teagan, Trianna; Shayna ((Aron), Ayden and Emma); Kathy , (Kathy’s children: Troy ((Brittany), Grayson and Breckyn); Kristal ((Doug), Kade); Marianne; Lee (Megan and Ryan); and Ian (Peggy); her brothers: Hartman (Eileen) and family; Hans (Audrey) and family; In-Laws: Edwin (Alice) and family, Rose and family, Keith (Donna) and family; Pat (John) and family; Jeanette (Cecil)and families; Lillian; Trudy; many extended family members and many friends, too numerous to name that Ursula brought into her heart and home.
A tea was held to celebrate Ursula with the residents of her last home at Laurier Manor on Tuesday, May 13th. Ursula will be laid to rest with her late husband Len on June 13th, 11:00am at the Prince George Cemetary with a celebration of life to follow for family and friends.