Susan Laurel Allen Baril
August 27, 1948 - July 14, 2024
August 27, 1948 - July 14, 2024
Susan Laurel (Allen) Baril of Magrath, Alberta - Our beloved, beautiful wife, mother, Grandma Sue-Sue, sister, auntie, friend, teacher, listener, and confidante, passed away on July 14, 2024. She was 75. She was as calm, comforting, fierce and steadfast as the prairies that made her.
Susan was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta on August 27, 1948, the third child of Joyce Clarada (Gill) Allen and Gordon “Bus” Leslie Allen. They lived on a family farm outside of Bow Island - they grew corn and onions, and had a pet badger named Mickey. After graduating from Senator Gershaw High School in 1966, she moved to Calgary, Alberta where she began her young adult life. Susan worked for a time at AGT with her sister, Linda. It wasn’t long before she married Gerard Lyle Baril in 1968 and they set up home, first in Calgary, and then Prince George, B.C. As they grew their young family, Gerry worked hard in sales and Susan stayed home with their three young children. The family enjoyed their time in British Columbia, but Susan always missed the wide-open skies of Southern Alberta. In 1981 the Baril family relocated to Magrath and quickly felt at home. A significant memory for the family was being sealed in the Cardston Alberta temple April 10, 1982.
Susan re-entered the workforce, first volunteering at the Magrath Public Library, and then being hired as the town secretary, where she loved working with the people of Magrath as she advanced in her career. She became, in the opinion of many, the best assistant administrator the Town of Magrath has ever had. She loved her colleagues and serving the community.
Susan loved her friends - many hours of early morning walks, women’s conferences, shopping trips, road trips, and supporting each other. She liked quilting, but she loved spending time with her quilting friends and sisters even more. She and Lois, a long-time friend, once started a cloth diaper business - “Grandma’s Best”. They even rode a float in the Magrath parade marketing their entrepreneurial efforts!
Susan’s primary focus in life was creating and caretaking good relationships. Her life was devoted to her family, and we learned from her what it looks like to gather and grow. We remember play clothes, school clothes, reading good books, weekly primary carpools, church activities, music lessons, Saturday chores, and going outside to play. We enjoyed the fruits of her labours - bottled peaches, homemade t-shirts, home-cooked meals, home-grown sprouts, and “healthy” chocolate chip cookies that she said were improved by adding sunflower seeds.
Susan forged a path for her family as a follower of Jesus Christ and her life reflected her love for Him.
Susan will be remembered fondly for her bright laugh, her gentle nature, her beautiful penmanship, and her quiet acts of service. She loved a Coke “snow-bob” and a triple chocolate ice cream cone, and we’ll think of her each time we have one. She was full of goodness and peace and contentment and love. Our worlds feels a little out of balance without her in it.
Gerry and Susan loved visiting their children and grandchildren and were always so glad to have family come to their home. We have fond memories of cookouts in the backyard, walks on the trail, Magrath days and a cupboard full of loonies for the grandkids to spend uptown, and Grandma whooing and clapping for the entire fireworks show.
Diagnosed with breast cancer more than two decades ago, Susan faced her treatments with courage and quiet resilience. As Susan’s health failed, Gerry continuously showed his love by taking her to countless appointments and taking over the responsibilities of daily life. He honored her with his service and love. During 56 years of marriage they have practiced the art of taking care of each other.
Susan will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Gerry, and their three children:
Michelle (Thomas) Dudley
Tommy (Emma Steinbergs) Dudley
Hannah (Jeff) Weed
Camilla (Lucky) Sherry
Abbey (Josh) King
Danny (Ellie) Dudley
Jack Dudley
Monique (Michael) Hardy
Chad Hardy
Bryce (Alisa) Hardy
Bethany (Matthew) Stewart
Carson Hardy
Aubrey Hardy
Mark (Sara) Baril
McKaya (Jared) McDonald
Hunter (Bailey) Baril
Benson Baril
Taylee Baril
Brigham Baril
along with 12 great-grandchildren, her siblings Cheryl and Gary, her sister-in-law, Sharon, and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loves.
She was preceded in death by her loving mother, Joyce Clarada (Gill) MacLennan, her father, Gordon “Bus” Allen, her sisters Gail “Tink” and Linda.
We express our sincere gratitude to the countless friends and community members who have reached out in support of our wife and mom. Your many acts of kindness over the years have meant so much to us. Mom received exceptional care from her palliative care doctors and nurses, her home health care team, and the dedicated staff at Raymond Hospital. They all treated her and our family with the utmost compassion and tenderness. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.
We invite you to meet the family on Friday, July 26 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm, or Saturday, July 27 at 1:30 - 2:15 pm, and to attend a service in her honour on Saturday, July 27 at 2:30 pm. All services will take place at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Garden Place Chapel in Magrath, Alberta. Susan will be buried at the Magrath Cemetery.
Susan was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta on August 27, 1948, the third child of Joyce Clarada (Gill) Allen and Gordon “Bus” Leslie Allen. They lived on a family farm outside of Bow Island - they grew corn and onions, and had a pet badger named Mickey. After graduating from Senator Gershaw High School in 1966, she moved to Calgary, Alberta where she began her young adult life. Susan worked for a time at AGT with her sister, Linda. It wasn’t long before she married Gerard Lyle Baril in 1968 and they set up home, first in Calgary, and then Prince George, B.C. As they grew their young family, Gerry worked hard in sales and Susan stayed home with their three young children. The family enjoyed their time in British Columbia, but Susan always missed the wide-open skies of Southern Alberta. In 1981 the Baril family relocated to Magrath and quickly felt at home. A significant memory for the family was being sealed in the Cardston Alberta temple April 10, 1982.
Susan re-entered the workforce, first volunteering at the Magrath Public Library, and then being hired as the town secretary, where she loved working with the people of Magrath as she advanced in her career. She became, in the opinion of many, the best assistant administrator the Town of Magrath has ever had. She loved her colleagues and serving the community.
Susan loved her friends - many hours of early morning walks, women’s conferences, shopping trips, road trips, and supporting each other. She liked quilting, but she loved spending time with her quilting friends and sisters even more. She and Lois, a long-time friend, once started a cloth diaper business - “Grandma’s Best”. They even rode a float in the Magrath parade marketing their entrepreneurial efforts!
Susan’s primary focus in life was creating and caretaking good relationships. Her life was devoted to her family, and we learned from her what it looks like to gather and grow. We remember play clothes, school clothes, reading good books, weekly primary carpools, church activities, music lessons, Saturday chores, and going outside to play. We enjoyed the fruits of her labours - bottled peaches, homemade t-shirts, home-cooked meals, home-grown sprouts, and “healthy” chocolate chip cookies that she said were improved by adding sunflower seeds.
Susan forged a path for her family as a follower of Jesus Christ and her life reflected her love for Him.
Susan will be remembered fondly for her bright laugh, her gentle nature, her beautiful penmanship, and her quiet acts of service. She loved a Coke “snow-bob” and a triple chocolate ice cream cone, and we’ll think of her each time we have one. She was full of goodness and peace and contentment and love. Our worlds feels a little out of balance without her in it.
Gerry and Susan loved visiting their children and grandchildren and were always so glad to have family come to their home. We have fond memories of cookouts in the backyard, walks on the trail, Magrath days and a cupboard full of loonies for the grandkids to spend uptown, and Grandma whooing and clapping for the entire fireworks show.
Diagnosed with breast cancer more than two decades ago, Susan faced her treatments with courage and quiet resilience. As Susan’s health failed, Gerry continuously showed his love by taking her to countless appointments and taking over the responsibilities of daily life. He honored her with his service and love. During 56 years of marriage they have practiced the art of taking care of each other.
Susan will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Gerry, and their three children:
Michelle (Thomas) Dudley
Tommy (Emma Steinbergs) Dudley
Hannah (Jeff) Weed
Camilla (Lucky) Sherry
Abbey (Josh) King
Danny (Ellie) Dudley
Jack Dudley
Monique (Michael) Hardy
Chad Hardy
Bryce (Alisa) Hardy
Bethany (Matthew) Stewart
Carson Hardy
Aubrey Hardy
Mark (Sara) Baril
McKaya (Jared) McDonald
Hunter (Bailey) Baril
Benson Baril
Taylee Baril
Brigham Baril
along with 12 great-grandchildren, her siblings Cheryl and Gary, her sister-in-law, Sharon, and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loves.
She was preceded in death by her loving mother, Joyce Clarada (Gill) MacLennan, her father, Gordon “Bus” Allen, her sisters Gail “Tink” and Linda.
We express our sincere gratitude to the countless friends and community members who have reached out in support of our wife and mom. Your many acts of kindness over the years have meant so much to us. Mom received exceptional care from her palliative care doctors and nurses, her home health care team, and the dedicated staff at Raymond Hospital. They all treated her and our family with the utmost compassion and tenderness. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.
We invite you to meet the family on Friday, July 26 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm, or Saturday, July 27 at 1:30 - 2:15 pm, and to attend a service in her honour on Saturday, July 27 at 2:30 pm. All services will take place at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Garden Place Chapel in Magrath, Alberta. Susan will be buried at the Magrath Cemetery.