Laverne (Binky) Holy Singer “Pi’kssaakii” (Bird Woman), was born on February 14, 1972 on the Blood Reserve. Binky passed away suddenly on Friday August 18, 2023 at the Calgary Foothills Medical Centre.
Binky was predeceased by her mother Bernadine Holy Singer, her father Thomas Eagle Speaker, grandparents Bertha Shouting and Thomas Holy Singer Jr., and Maggie and Tom Eagle Speaker.
She will be missed by her daughters Cherie (Sam), Marissa, Kristen (Cyrus), Tasha, Brittany, and Haley (Nate) and her grandchildren who she adored immensely Jaelle, Carter, Willow, Emil, Autumn, Alexi and her new grand baby to be born in January 2024, her siblings Savaya, Lee-Ann, Peggy-Ann Holy Singer and baby Brother Clayton Eagle Speaker.
Binky spent her childhood on the Blood Reserve surrounded by her siblings, cousins, and her friends. Binky was educated on the Blood Reserve and in Lethbridge where she took cosmology. As a young girl, Binky was baptised in the full gospel church, she also travelled to the United States with her mom, grandma and aunties to camp meetings and church. Binky enjoyed singing and listening to gospel music during her mother’s church services. Binky completed her youth quest and her Pilgrimage. Her friends described her as a protective and tough friend. For example, Binky was 7 years old when she was tragically struck by a vehicle where she overcame her injuries and relearned how to walk again, helping her to become a strong-willed and resilient woman.
As a teenager, Binky surrounded herself with friends and family. She loved to spend many nights with her siblings, playing cards over a pot of coffee. Binky loved babysitting and taking care of her younger siblings and cousins. She spent her teen years visiting her Holy Singer aunties as well as her Eagle Speaker family and loved to help cook and clean anywhere she could. Binky’s most treasured accomplishment was when she became a mother. Family members often complimented on her loving mothering to her 6 daughters as she raised her daughters to hold the same morals and values as her own.
Despite Binky’s struggles, she went above and beyond for her girls and extended it onto her grandchildren until the end.
Her friends and family will remember Binky as a strong, loving mom, and a tough woman who cared for everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be dearly missed but always will remain in our hearts.
A Wake Service will be held at the Tanner Center, Cardston on Friday, September 1 from 6:00 - 11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Saturday, September 2 at 1:00 pm. Interment will take place in the Pioneer Cemetery.
Binky was predeceased by her mother Bernadine Holy Singer, her father Thomas Eagle Speaker, grandparents Bertha Shouting and Thomas Holy Singer Jr., and Maggie and Tom Eagle Speaker.
She will be missed by her daughters Cherie (Sam), Marissa, Kristen (Cyrus), Tasha, Brittany, and Haley (Nate) and her grandchildren who she adored immensely Jaelle, Carter, Willow, Emil, Autumn, Alexi and her new grand baby to be born in January 2024, her siblings Savaya, Lee-Ann, Peggy-Ann Holy Singer and baby Brother Clayton Eagle Speaker.
Binky spent her childhood on the Blood Reserve surrounded by her siblings, cousins, and her friends. Binky was educated on the Blood Reserve and in Lethbridge where she took cosmology. As a young girl, Binky was baptised in the full gospel church, she also travelled to the United States with her mom, grandma and aunties to camp meetings and church. Binky enjoyed singing and listening to gospel music during her mother’s church services. Binky completed her youth quest and her Pilgrimage. Her friends described her as a protective and tough friend. For example, Binky was 7 years old when she was tragically struck by a vehicle where she overcame her injuries and relearned how to walk again, helping her to become a strong-willed and resilient woman.
As a teenager, Binky surrounded herself with friends and family. She loved to spend many nights with her siblings, playing cards over a pot of coffee. Binky loved babysitting and taking care of her younger siblings and cousins. She spent her teen years visiting her Holy Singer aunties as well as her Eagle Speaker family and loved to help cook and clean anywhere she could. Binky’s most treasured accomplishment was when she became a mother. Family members often complimented on her loving mothering to her 6 daughters as she raised her daughters to hold the same morals and values as her own.
Despite Binky’s struggles, she went above and beyond for her girls and extended it onto her grandchildren until the end.
Her friends and family will remember Binky as a strong, loving mom, and a tough woman who cared for everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. She will be dearly missed but always will remain in our hearts.
A Wake Service will be held at the Tanner Center, Cardston on Friday, September 1 from 6:00 - 11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Saturday, September 2 at 1:00 pm. Interment will take place in the Pioneer Cemetery.