It’s with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beloved mother Donna Charlene Bougiridis on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at the QEII Hospital, at the age of 73 years with her family by her side.

Mom was born in her parent’s log cabin in Moose Wallow, AB, just two miles from the banks of the Athabasca River. The area which was settled by and named after our great-grandfather’s family, became known as the Cartwright Flats. She was the fifth of six children born to her mother Mary Owena and John Logan Cartwright on November 18, 1944.

Mom grew up poor but loved by her family. No power or running water, but nothing she and her family couldn’t manage. Mom was the youngest daughter, getting a lot of attention from her father, as he nicknamed her pumpkin. She lived in Moose Wallow, AB with her family until she was 15, then moved on to Barrhead, AB, where Mom lived with Mrs. Grant. Mom truly enjoyed staying with her as she had her very own bedroom. That was something she never had growing up in Moose Wallow.

It was decided that mom would stay with her eldest brother, Dale Cartwright and his family at CFB Greisbach Edmonton, to further her education at Queen Elizabeth High School in Edmonton. Mom enjoyed school, she was an honour student and also enjoyed the outdoors and playing sports.

Donna met Theodore Bougiridis in Edmonton at the Greyhound Restaurant. They were smitten with each other from the start. They married shortly after in 1962 and raised four daughters.

In 1967 they made Grande Prairie their home. Mom and Dad’s work centered around the food and hospitality industry; catering and camps. They owned and operated several restaurants in the city of Grande Prairie over many years. After selling their restaurants due to Dad’s failing health which left him wheelchair bound, Mom became Dad’s caregiver until his passing in 2006. After Dad’s passing, mom continued to work in the food industry. She also worked at the old bottle depot.

Mom was strong and proud and lived each day to the fullest. Mom enjoyed traveling and meeting new people from all over the world. She met some interesting people in her life and she always enjoyed talking with people who loved to see new and exciting things.

In 2016, her great-nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia and she had bottle drives to help Jordan and the family during that very crucial time. Mom spent a lot of her life helping family and friends. She was known for her kind heart, fierce spirit and brave soul. Her last employment was at the greyhound bus depot which she enjoyed but had to leave as she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in November 2017.

Mom will be sadly missed by her family and friends: three daughters, Despina Dellezay, Elpeda (Lee) Palmer and Dimetrula Bougiridis; six grandchildren: Andre (Heather) Lemay, Kara-Lee (Gerry) Geerligs, Daniel (Christina) Dellezay, Branden Palmer, Dimitri Dellezay and Noel Dellezay; two great-grandsons Liam and Reid Geerligs, Donna enjoyed them so very much. Wednesdays were “GG and Liam’s Adventure days”. They would go on little walks to “Grasshopper Hill and Butterfly Valley”. It was so very special, from berry picking to finding colorful pebbles on their way. They always had the neatest stories. Adventure days with GG will be forever in our hearts and especially for little Liam.

Mom was predeceased by her daughter Alanie Bougiridis in 2014, husband Theodore Bougiridis in 2006, both her parents, John Logan Cartwright in 1975 and Mary Owena in 1992; as well as her older brothers Delmar and Orin Cartwright, and her only sister Oreta Weslake.

A Celebration of Life for our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother “GG”, will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 2:00pm at Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie (10005 107 Ave.).

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the White Rose Program c/o Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation (10409 98 St. Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2E8).