Nora Eagle Bear, beloved wife of the late Alphonse Eagle Bear, of the Blood Reserve passed away March 30, 2026 at the age of 79 years in Cardston, Alberta. She was born on the Blood Reserve September 10, 1946 to David Sr. and Gwen (Soop) Healy.
Nora is survived by her children Garret (Nadine), Rhonda (Rob), Rocky (Jaime), Alanna and Coby (Jack). Her grandchildren Tyler (Kristian), Marlee, Blaine, Nigel, Nathan (Santana), Hudson, Michaela, Jayden, Zakk, Kadence, Maria, Lexei, Payton, Marshal, Theoren, Kalle, Drew and Karter. Her great grandchildren Jordan, Joey, Julie, Logan and Saylor. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Nora Healy, her Aunt Mabel (Richard) Fox, her nieces and nephews, her god children Holly Healy and Tanis Crosschild, and her many cousins on her Soop and Healy sides as well as her in-laws.
Nora was predeceased by her loving husband Alphonse, her parents David Sr. and Gwen Healy, her siblings, Wilfred & Geraldine Soop, Fred Healy, David Jr. & Shirley Healy, Dorothy & Oliver Ward, Merle Healy, Richard Healy, and Les & Evelyn Healy, son-in-law Lynel Tailfeathers, grandchildren Rebecca and Michael Eagle Bear and many family members who passed on before her.
Nora was a hard worker with a strong work ethic which was instilled in her and her siblings at an early age by their parents. She always kept herself busy. Her first job was at St. Paul’s Residential School where she was Supervisor for the junior girls. During this time, she started transporting children to school in Cardston in her four-door car for the Blood Reserve School Bus Co-op and then purchased a Suburban to use. She eventually worked her way up to owning a mini-bus and then a full-size bus. She was a member of the Bus Co-op for over 50 years, right up to her passing. In the early 70’s she began working at Cardston Elementary School as a Teacher’s Assistant, she later transferred to Eastridge Elementary. After working with the Westwind School Division for nearly 20 years, she started work with the Kainai Board of Education at Saipoyi Community School before retiring from a career that lasted more than 40 years. During the farming season while her husband left early to work the fields, Nora would drive their school bus for the morning run, hop off the bus at the school and go to work at her regular job and then after school get back on the bus to drive the children home. In the summertime she helped her husband by running for parts for their farming equipment and bringing him lunch and supper while he was out on the tractor. Nora gave back to her community by serving as a board member with Kainai Community Corrections for several years. Once a month she volunteered with her late cousin Tina Pace to clean the church and provide the Sunday luncheon. She believed in giving to those less fortunate and those in need.
Nora was stylish and loved everything beautiful, this showed in the way she dressed and kept her home, which was so cozy and welcoming. Nora was known for her kind and loving nature. She had a way of making people feel good, lifting them up with her positive and encouraging words, even to strangers. Some of her favourite things were shopping, antiques, toys, elephants and music, especially Elvis.
Throughout her life, Nora was close to her aunties, spending many joyous occasions with them. And growing up her cousins were her best friends. She loved her nieces and nephews and felt their love. Most of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her happiness.
After the passing of her husband, Nora was lonely and didn’t want to be home, so she rotated her time living with her children. The last three years were spent at Lee Crest, and she looked forward to weekends and holidays where she knew she would be picked up to be with family. She especially enjoyed her Saturday visits with her niece Arlene Ward.
Nora will be sadly missed by all those whose lives she touched. We will love and cherish her forever. The family would like to thank the staff at Lee Crest, Cottage 2 for the care and love they gave to our dear mother. And to all those who showed their love and support to her, and her children and grandchildren during their most difficult time.
A wake service will be at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Blood Reserve, Alberta on Monday April 6, 2026 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. The Funeral service will also be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at St. Paul’s Cemetery.
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Nora is survived by her children Garret (Nadine), Rhonda (Rob), Rocky (Jaime), Alanna and Coby (Jack). Her grandchildren Tyler (Kristian), Marlee, Blaine, Nigel, Nathan (Santana), Hudson, Michaela, Jayden, Zakk, Kadence, Maria, Lexei, Payton, Marshal, Theoren, Kalle, Drew and Karter. Her great grandchildren Jordan, Joey, Julie, Logan and Saylor. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Nora Healy, her Aunt Mabel (Richard) Fox, her nieces and nephews, her god children Holly Healy and Tanis Crosschild, and her many cousins on her Soop and Healy sides as well as her in-laws.
Nora was predeceased by her loving husband Alphonse, her parents David Sr. and Gwen Healy, her siblings, Wilfred & Geraldine Soop, Fred Healy, David Jr. & Shirley Healy, Dorothy & Oliver Ward, Merle Healy, Richard Healy, and Les & Evelyn Healy, son-in-law Lynel Tailfeathers, grandchildren Rebecca and Michael Eagle Bear and many family members who passed on before her.
Nora was a hard worker with a strong work ethic which was instilled in her and her siblings at an early age by their parents. She always kept herself busy. Her first job was at St. Paul’s Residential School where she was Supervisor for the junior girls. During this time, she started transporting children to school in Cardston in her four-door car for the Blood Reserve School Bus Co-op and then purchased a Suburban to use. She eventually worked her way up to owning a mini-bus and then a full-size bus. She was a member of the Bus Co-op for over 50 years, right up to her passing. In the early 70’s she began working at Cardston Elementary School as a Teacher’s Assistant, she later transferred to Eastridge Elementary. After working with the Westwind School Division for nearly 20 years, she started work with the Kainai Board of Education at Saipoyi Community School before retiring from a career that lasted more than 40 years. During the farming season while her husband left early to work the fields, Nora would drive their school bus for the morning run, hop off the bus at the school and go to work at her regular job and then after school get back on the bus to drive the children home. In the summertime she helped her husband by running for parts for their farming equipment and bringing him lunch and supper while he was out on the tractor. Nora gave back to her community by serving as a board member with Kainai Community Corrections for several years. Once a month she volunteered with her late cousin Tina Pace to clean the church and provide the Sunday luncheon. She believed in giving to those less fortunate and those in need.
Nora was stylish and loved everything beautiful, this showed in the way she dressed and kept her home, which was so cozy and welcoming. Nora was known for her kind and loving nature. She had a way of making people feel good, lifting them up with her positive and encouraging words, even to strangers. Some of her favourite things were shopping, antiques, toys, elephants and music, especially Elvis.
Throughout her life, Nora was close to her aunties, spending many joyous occasions with them. And growing up her cousins were her best friends. She loved her nieces and nephews and felt their love. Most of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her happiness.
After the passing of her husband, Nora was lonely and didn’t want to be home, so she rotated her time living with her children. The last three years were spent at Lee Crest, and she looked forward to weekends and holidays where she knew she would be picked up to be with family. She especially enjoyed her Saturday visits with her niece Arlene Ward.
Nora will be sadly missed by all those whose lives she touched. We will love and cherish her forever. The family would like to thank the staff at Lee Crest, Cottage 2 for the care and love they gave to our dear mother. And to all those who showed their love and support to her, and her children and grandchildren during their most difficult time.
A wake service will be at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Blood Reserve, Alberta on Monday April 6, 2026 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. The Funeral service will also be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at St. Paul’s Cemetery.
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