Obituary of Phyllis Mary Branch

February 21, 1928 – Lethbridge, Alberta

May 1, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Phyllis Mary Branch (nee Montgomery), beloved wife of the late Ken Branch, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Bow View Manor at the age of 96 years.

Phyllis was born in Lethbridge, AB, on February 21, 1928. She was the second child of Clarence and Vera Montgomery, along with older brother Joe and younger siblings Bob, Shirley, and Jean (who died in infancy).

Phyllis completed high school at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and later graduated from Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton as a Registered Nurse in 1950. After starting her nursing career in Lethbridge, the travel bug bit Phyllis, and with her RN designation, she embarked on a career as a Trans Canada Airlines flight attendant.

As fate would have it, while on a layover in Montreal, she met a dashing, young fighter pilot, Kenneth Branch, also from Lethbridge. The two married in May of 1953. Their love and Ken’s career with the RCAF took them to England and across Canada. During this time, they welcomed five girls under their “wings”.

Following Ken’s retirement from the Air Force in 1970, Ken and Phyllis returned to their roots in Lethbridge. As her girls grew, Phyllis returned to her nursing career, working many years at the Lethbridge Municipal Hospital. Always with an eye for fashion, Phyllis was a skilled and prolific seamstress, sewing wardrobes for the whole family – including a formal tuxedo for Ken. Phyllis had a lifelong love for swimming, which kept her in the water until she was 85. The travel bug never left Phyllis and Ken, as they were avid RV enthusiasts and always open to a good adventure. But the most important thing to Phyllis was always her family, which was evident in everything she did. Her quiet strength, calm and caring nature, and keen sense of humour will always be treasured by her family.

Phyllis will be lovingly remembered by daughters, Gail (Patrick) Coristine, Pamela Branch, Patricia (Kevin) Keith, Janet Branch, and Karen (Sam) Yip; grandchildren, Ellen Coristine, Jennifer (Robert) Grant, Wayne Coristine, Lauren and Allison Keith, Matthew and Kyle Yip; great-grandchildren, Andrea and Alyssa Coristine, Dustin Rehbein; and sister-in-law Ardis Branch. She will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, and others whose lives she touched over her 96 years.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Bow View Manor for the kind and compassionate care they provided Phyllis since 2015.

A Private Family Memorial will be held at a later date.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca, the Canadian Cancer Society, 55 St Clair Avenue West, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 2Y7, Tel: 1-800-268-8874, www.cancer.ca, or to a charity of your choice.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Phyllis’ family here.

In living memory of Phyllis Branch, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.