Earl Arron Heltay passed away at Foothills hospital in Calgary, Alberta after a short illness, on Friday February 11, 2022 at the age of 77.
Born in Calgary, his family moved to Edmonton when he was five, where he went to school until coming back briefly to Calgary to finish high school at Mount Royal.
He returned to Edmonton for a few years where he married (Bonnie Warhaft) and had his daughter, before moving to Winnipeg where he lived for over 30 years as an active member of the community and where both of his sons were born. He returned to Calgary, where he spent his last years.
Earl loved sports: Curling, baseball, football, basketball, hockey, squash, tennis, and skiing – both as a spectator and a player.
Earl was an entrepreneur, a voracious reader and a lover of jazz.
He is mourned by his three children and eleven grandchildren: Jenni Menashe (Nir), BenZion, Tzofia, Netanel, Rivka, Yedidya and Avraham Shlomo – Israel; Evan Heltay (Shaby), Aviva, Ezra, Nehemia, Akiva and Ayelet – Israel; and Matthew Heltay – Calgary. As well, Earl leaves behind his older sister, Cleo Barron, and younger brother, Mike Heltay, both of Calgary, and many nieces and nephews.
In March of 2020, Earl went to Israel for his grandson’s Bar Mitzvah and was there for six months, due to the Covid pandemic, allowing him a fantastic opportunity to get to know his grandchildren and the country which he grew to love. He had planned to make Aliyah in September of 2021 but unfortunately was diagnosed with cancer and his plans changed.
He was cared for by the Tom Baker Centre since his diagnosis in June 2021 and fought a hard battle.
Earl spent his last month in the IPCU 47 at Foothills and received amazing care. The family would especially like to thank the medical team and compassionate staff who tried their hardest to help him in every way.
The family would like to thank Rabbi and Rebbetzin Matusof, Rabbi Daniel and Adina Shimonov and the community for their help and support during such a difficult time.
Funeral services were held graveside at the 37th St. Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta
on Tuesday, February 15th 2022.
Any friends and family who would like to make a gift in his memory are asked to do so via the Chabad/Lubavitch of Alberta website https://www.chabadalberta.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/3587808/jewish/Donate-Online.htm
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