Elsie May Munro (nee Hansen) April 29, 1933 - March 28, 2025 Elsie was born at home on the farm near Squaredeal, the second child for George and Daisy Hansen. She grew up with five sisters and a brother. Like many children of the thirties, Elsie was depended upon for big responsibilities. She helped raise "the littles" and as they grew all the kids worked as a team on the farm. Elsie and her big sister Jean were tasked with farm chores, as a teenage duo, that could have at times proven challenging for grown men. She grew up to be resilient, tough, and independent. She grew up to appreciate horses, bluebird days, prairie blooms, and wide-open spaces. She grew up to value knowledge and family. Once grown, Elsie studied at Olds College. She graduated and began work at Special Areas in Hanna. Before long she married a boy she grew up with, from just six miles down the road, Howard Munro. The newlyweds followed the rigs for three years and started a family. Ray was born in 1957, and the arrival of Brenda two years later completed their family. They decided to put down roots at the Munro Homestead and took over the family farm. Howard took charge of the farming and Elsie the cattle. Their partnership grew strong as they worked together side-by-side building and living their shared dream. The kids grew as fast as the caraganas, and raising kids, ranching, gardening, homemaking, and driving the school bus kept Elsie hopping. She hustled hard and when life brought challenges she met them with quiet strength, tenacity, and determination. In 1989 they retired and moved to Brooks. Elsie adapted to the change with grace. She took up golf, volunteering at the golf course, and the tuck shop at the hospital. She curled, and joined the quilting club, making friends, and developing community. They enjoyed going south for the winter, and spending time with grandkids. Howard and Elsie moved to the condo just prior to Howard's passing in 2010. The move proved to be his final act of love for Elsie. Here Elsie persevered through grief, finding her new stride while making friends in the condo. Elsie enjoyed visiting with her kids everyday, and cheering on her grandkids and great-grandkids with bias grossly in our favour. She would spend her last 15 years in the condo. During those years she maintained her strength and selfdetermination while also leaning into a newfound softness. Learning to receive a helping hand occasionally after decades of service to others required vulnerability. She showed us through example that it's never too late to learn and grow, as she began to accept vulnerability not as weakness, but as the place where tenderness and connection draw breath. Elsie achieved her goal of living at home until the end and passed away peacefully maintaining her dignity and independence. She achieved many things in her life but perhaps the most remarkable achievement was living her life with such immense strength, determination, and resilience. She is a role model to us all. We are so proud of her, and grateful for her. She will be dearly missed. Elsie is survived by her son Ray (Cheryl) Munro, her daughter Brenda (Joel) Munro-Ward, her granddaughters and great-grandchildren, Heather (Mike) Cash + Munro Anderson, Taryn (Leighton) Bianca, Parks, and Wynter Ramsay, Cari (Parker) Munro-Hayward. Her sister, Virginia Collins, sister-in-law Linda Hansen, and many beloved nieces and nephews. A private family memorial will be held later this month. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made directly to the Aarit Hok Pediatric Fund, c/o Brooks Health Centre, Bag 300, Brooks, Alberta   T1R 1B3.

Cremation is entrusted to and conducted at

Smith Funeral Home Ltd., Brooks