Becky Biendarra, resident of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025, at the GPRH at the age of 69 years after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Becky was born on August 21, 1955, in Houma, Louisiana.  Her family moved from Louisiana to Venezuela where they spent a few years following her dad for work before moving to St. Albert and then off to homestead at Little Smoky in 1960.  Becky moved to Grande Prairie in 1978.  In 2009 she moved to the outskirts of town onto her dream acreage where she spent the rest of her years enjoying her garden, greenhouse and deck swing with a cup of coffee!

Becky had the most infectious laugh which you could hear a mile away.  You couldn’t help but smile or giggle to yourself if you were within earshot.  She was loving, kind, honest and fair. She always put her family above all else.  Becky was famous for her amazing quilting skills; you could always find her planning, cutting or sewing her latest creation.  As her family, we were lucky to always be warm and cozy in something so beautiful and meaningful.  We are blessed to have these pieces of her to cherish.

Becky loved to spend time with her family; one of her favorite summer activities was to go camping with everyone (friends & family) in Slave Lake.  She absolutely loved cooking and planning activities for her kids and grandkids at the lake. Her family also loved this planning as we were always well fed and taken care of when we were with her.

Becky learned how to swim later on in life after a water scare as a child.  She came to love it so much that she found ways to always fit it into her life.  It was an activity that let her escape and helped to calm her mind.  Even after multiple surgeries, chemo and radiation she always made time to swim.

Becky spent the last 30 years working in the local medical field. She earned her Licensed Practical Nurse Certification before going to work as a laboratory assistant in the hospital, at numerous AHS as well as private medical labs in Grande Prairie.  She quickly became a local favorite, as she “poked “everyone in Grande Prairie at least once.  Patients would either request her or try to come to the lab when she was on shift as she had the magic touch and could draw blood without you even knowing. Which was just a bonus to being able to visit with her and share some laughs.

Becky will be forever loved and missed by her husband of 50 years; Henry Biendarra, her children Billy (Kara) Biendarra, Carrie (Greg) Leaf and her 4 amazing grandchildren, Avery & Sawyer Leaf, and Owen & Isla Biendarra as well as a multitude of friends, extended family, co-workers and anyone who was lucky enough to have crossed paths with her.

Becky is survived by 2 older brothers Mitchell Choukalos, Russel Choukalos, sisters-in-laws: Marjorie Arndt, Audrey (Dan) Dean, Donna Bird, and Nephews Dallas Rowbottom, Tyler Biendarra, Sam Dean, and nieces Natasha Dean & Danielle Girard.

She was predeceased by her father George Choukalos (2001), her mom Anne Moro (2016), her mother-in-law Nina Biendarra (2003) and father-in-law Emil Biendarra (2021).

A Celebration of Life is planned for Tuesday, June 3rd at 11:00 am at People’s Church (11850-108 Street) in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta as she was forever grateful for the outstanding care that she was given throughout her 5-and-a-half-year battle with this terrible disease.

Alberta Cancer Foundation- Cross Cancer Institute – albertacancer.ca

The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Jim Pope for all his compassion and care over the length of her illness and recognize the nursing staff on Unit 22 at GPRH for going above and beyond with her care during her final days.

 

• Date : 2025-05-26
• Location : Grande Prairie, Alberta

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