Hilary Atkinson

Hilary Margaret Atkinson passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024, at Pincher Creek Hospital, Pincher Creek, Alberta, at the age of 82.

Our beloved Hilary was born on January 30, 1942, in Neston, England and grew up in Wallasey, Merseyside, England. She attended Wallasey High School and went on from there to receive her qualifications to be a photographer in Manchester, UK. As a young woman, Hilary was interested in fashion and design and enjoyed hiking and climbing in the Welsh mountains. The mountains of North Wales held special memories for her.

On July 4, 1964, Hilary married John Martin Atkinson in Wallasey and they moved to Toronto, Canada that same year. After discovering the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, they moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1967. John and Hilary loved hiking in the Canadian Rockies with friends and family and exploring the countryside of southern France and England together. They had two children, Julie and Alex. Her husband John predeceased Hilary in 2008.

Hilary loved to travel with her sister Gilly as well as with her nieces Vicky and Rachel, visiting North Africa, Italy, and Croatia together. Hilary also travelled with friends to South East Asia and India, and for many years spent part of the year at her home in southern France enjoying the food, wine, friends and countryside.

Hilary loved the arts and literature. She completed a BA Degree in English Literature from the University of Calgary and an Art History Degree from the Open University in the UK. She also loved music and was President of the Calgary Promusica Society for a time.

In 2010, she began a relationship with her longtime family friend, Peter Sherrington. They had many interests together such as music and art and spent time in Southern France and in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies observing eagles together. Peter was devoted to Hilary and especially throughout her time with dementia.

Hilary’s friends and family were an extremely important part of her life.

Hilary’s family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the caregivers at Vista Village and the nurses at Pincher Creek Hospital.

A celebration of Hilary’s life will be held at a future date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hilary Atkinson, please visit our floral store.