Maureen Helene Isabella Coulter

Maureen Helene Isabella Coulter

January 16, 1941 – May 22, 2026

With extremely heavy hearts, our family announces the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. Maureen passed peacefully in her sleep at Sunnyside Care Home, with her beloved husband of 56 years, Thomas Coulter, close by, as he always was.

Maureen was born in Eckville, Alberta, to Walter and Cecilia McMeekin. Her childhood was spent in Leslieville, Alberta, having adventures with her five siblings, Carole, Peter, Bruce, Margaret and Robert. She graduated from Leslieville School at the age of 16 and moved to Red Deer, Alberta, where she began employment with the Bank of Montreal, a career that she returned to many times in many locations until the age of 48. In 1969, Maureen met Tom Coulter. They married after a whirlwind romance and began their life together.

Maureen, Tom, and their children Tom Jr., Sandy and Dawn, criss-crossed the country in many moves due to Tom’s job with K-Mart Canada. Maureen was a stable and loving presence through all these upheavals, keeping the family functioning and helping everyone adjust. Her warm and engaging personality won her many special friends in each new place. In 1983 the family moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta, where Maureen resided almost continuously for the rest of her life.

Medicine Hat was where Maureen most established herself. In addition to working at the bank when her children were in school, she was an active member of the Medicine Hat Art Club and enjoyed many cultural activities. Maureen and Tom were part of a dining club with several friends that lasted many years. They often travelled for Tom’s running events, and the community around them grew. At the age of 48, Maureen realized her lifelong dream of going to art school, when she completed an Associate of Arts diploma at Medicine Hat College. She recalled those years as some of her favourite, and made many friends once more.

After completing school, Maureen continued her art, winning recognition at the Stampede art exhibits and creating her own jewellery. In addition to her traditional artistic gifts, Maureen was also an artist in the garden. Her flower beds and vegetable garden were the envy of many, a passion she continued throughout her life, either as an active gardener or a supervisor of Tom when rheumatoid arthritis hampered her strength and mobility.

When the children were grown, Maureen and Tom spent many years travelling the world together. Memorable trips included England, Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Portugal, China, Malaysia, Arizona, and a European river cruise. They also enjoyed several visits to Mexico with friends, as well as a cross Canada train journey to the Maritimes.

Maureen was an incredibly empathetic, loving and warm human being. She raised her children with high expectations and care, supporting them through all of life’s challenges. She felt that being a mother was her most important job, and with the arrivals of her grandchildren Jade, Simon, Lucius, Onyx and Jack, she added amazing grandmother to her resume. Maureen’s grandchildren were the joy of her life, and the affection was returned by each of them. The foundation of our family was built on the stable, respectful, loving and committed relationship of Maureen and Tom. She looked after him, he looked after her, and they weathered the storms of life together, always providing a soft place for their family to land. We will be eternally grateful that her last moments were spent with the true love of her life.

In addition to Tom, her children and grandchildren, left to cherish Maureen’s memory are her siblings Bruce, Peter and Margaret, in-laws, nieces, nephews and many friends near and far.

The world will never be the same without her, but the honour of knowing and loving Maureen is a gift that cannot be taken away.

A Celebration of Maureen’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Murray Jaster officiating. Private interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery with a time of fellowship thereafter in the Reflections Reception Facility.  (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com)  In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting one of Maureen’s favourite causes:

Save the Children Canada

Arthritis Society of Canada

Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation