Cochrane Country Funeral Home

In Loving Memory of Maura Kathleen Bourdon

It is with profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Maura Kathleen Bourdon (nee Hall), on June 7, 2020, at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta.

Maura was born in Victoria, British Columbia, on June 24, 1954. She graduated from Mount Douglas High School in Victoria, in 1972, where her father worked as a teacher and guidance counselor. Maura continued her formal education in Toronto, Ontario, graduating from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (Honours) in Dance and Psychology, in 1977.

It was in Toronto that Maura met her soulmate, Gary. They were engaged just six weeks after their first date, and married in Victoria, BC, at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, on August 20, 1976. Maura and Gary were lovingly married for 43 years. Together, they have five beautiful children. Amanda, Genevieve, Jacqueline, Harrison, and Sabrina, all born in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Maura became a grandmother a little more than eighteen months ago, and it was a dream-come-true for her! Jacqueline and her husband, Mike Weese, have twin children, Austin and Amelia. Genevieve and her fiancé, Marcus Iannattone, have a son, Khyran. It was such a wonderful highlight of Maura’s life to see these three grandbabies, born within six weeks of each other, in October and December of 2018. She was an adoring and loving grandmother and doted on the three of them with pride.

Maura overflowed with artistic talent. She was a gifted dancer, actress, choreographer, singer, lyricist and writer. As a dancer, she excelled in ballet and modern dance, as well as musical theatre. Maura received her initial ballet training from the Wynne Shaw School of Dancing in Victoria. She received a scholarship to attend the summer ballet program at the Banff School of Fine Arts, and furthered her study of dance at York University in Toronto. Maura performed at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, in The Jerry Gosley’s Smile Show for several seasons, and was named Actress of the Year in British Columbia in 1972.

After graduation in Toronto, Maura and Gary settled in Winnipeg. There, Maura continued her love of the arts by performing at Rainbow Stage, Canada’s largest and longest-running outdoor theatre. Maura became a teacher at the internationally esteemed Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and introduced many young children to dance through creative movement and ballet. After the RWB, Maura took a leap and challenged herself, becoming the choreographer for The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Winnipeg for the better part of a decade. She studied Opera through the Royal Conservatory of Music, joyfully sang in the Winnipeg Philharmonic & St. Boniface Diocesan choirs and performed in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

Maura was the driving inspiration in life and the arts for all of her children. As youngsters, she introduced them to the performing arts through the RWB and Winnipeg School of Performing Arts (WSPA), where they expanded their skills with exceptional training from Kimberley Timlock.

Maura and Gary moved to Medicine Hat, AB, in 2000. Maura was instrumental in helping her daughter Genevieve open the Medicine Hat School of Performing Arts (MHSPA), in September, 2008. “Miss Maura” adored her time at the studio, and was thrilled to teach alongside each of her daughters. Miss Maura was an award-winning choreographer, teaching ballet and lyrical (though she really aspired to be a hip-hop B-girl!). She will be dearly missed by all the students, parents and teachers of the MHSPA family.

In addition, Maura collaborated with Gary as co-writer of many original songs. As singer-songwriters, they showcased her beautiful singing voice and lyrical talent. Together, they recorded and produced an album, and were well-received at many Medicine Hat performances, entertaining the crowd with their witty onstage banter and endearing chemistry.

Maura’s love of life extended to many other areas, including cooking, baking, yoga & Pilates, shopping with her sisters, “glamping” in the motorhome, playing cards, “bear-tracking” and swimming at every beach and lake she visited. She even earned her motorcycle license and rode her own motorcycle. She waterskied and drove a professional waterski boat, so that her husband could slalom ski. In this, as in so many things, she exhibited remarkable skill. Maura was never afraid to take on new challenges in her life. She loved animals and of course, they loved her, too.

She is fondly remembered as a free spirit and the life of the party! Maura had an open, astute mind and broad sense of humour. Her emotional depth and intelligence knew no bounds. She was incredibly graceful, courageous and compassionate. Maura truly left a positive and glowing impact everywhere she adventured. Our broken hearts are warmed by the outpouring of love and support, showing how Maura brought joy to all the lives she touched.

Maura is pre-deceased by her father, Gordon Frederick Hall, her mother, Kathleen Agnes Hall, her younger brother Christopher, and her older brother Gregory. In addition to her immediate family, Maura is mourned by her older sister, Therese Bullin (Stewart) and children Christopher and Mike; Kathy Hall (Don) and children Chelsea and Marc; Andrea Hall (D’Arcy) and children Nate, Winston and Katie; Anthony Hall (Julie) and children Ariel and Gregory; Genny Williams (Gord) and son Kyle; as well as many relations on her husband Gary’s side of the family.

A funeral and celebration of life will be scheduled and announced, once the pandemic restrictions have been lifted.

We will all lovingly miss you, Maura, and cherish your kind, generous and caring spirit, always. Love never dies, and we know your spirit lives on!

Arrangements entrusted to Cochrane Country Funeral Home, Florence (Flo) Simpson, Funeral Director. Ph: 403-932-1039.