MELISSA REBEKAH FOSTER

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MELISSA REBEKAH FOSTER

1984 - 2024

We have to say goodbye to our daughter, sister, aunt, colleague, and friend, Melissa Foster, far too soon, as she suddenly left us in the early hours of August 10, 2024 in Forestburg, Alberta.

Melissa was born on November 12, 1984 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Liss made a big impression from the very start, born at nearly 12 lbs with a full head of hair and a feisty twinkle in her eye, ready to take on the world. Melissa was the third child born to Wayne and Rebekah Foster. She leaves behind her father, her sister and best friend, Amanda Land and her husband Peter, loving big brother and “Irish twin”, Mark Foster and wife Amber, and nephews, Liam Foster and Félix Land.

Melissa gave her mom and dad a run for their money, determined from the outset that she should be the REAL head of the household – what difference did it make that she was only 3 years old?! Despite being the youngest, Liss picked out what both she and Mark would wear every day when they were little. Because they were only 11 months apart in age, they went all through school together, where Liss made sure kids weren’t picking on her scrawny l’il big brother.

Later, after both had graduated from Windsor Park Collegiate, and once he had filled out a bit, Mark returned the favour and regularly took care of Liss and her heavy-lifting needs. Especially after she was diagnosed with epilepsy, and struggled with fatigue, bumps and bruises, and other side effects from seizures and assorted treatments.

Despite the many and varied health challenges, Melissa had a strong and healthy sense of adventure! On the heels of the end of terms of employment with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency, Melissa decided she was up for a new challenge, and she convinced her sister, Amanda, to throw caution to the wind, and whisk away with her to Fort McMurray to try something totally different. One year of working at Syncrude flew by, even though daily fighting over the thermostat with Amanda may have made it feel longer than it was. Soon the roommates parted ways as Amanda returned to the familiar back in Winnipeg, but Melissa’s desire for new challenges took her to Calgary, and independent living and higher education!

Melissa endured increasing challenges with seizures and medications impacting her memory, but they proved no match for her resolve and determination; staying the course, recovering from each seizure, studying hard and working harder, Melissa persevered and joined the University of Calgary’s class of 2021, making her friends and family so proud of her and all she had accomplished.

Following graduation, Melissa returned to Winnipeg to be closer to family, where she also rejoined her work family at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, finding old and new friends, especially while volunteering and co-chairing the 2023 Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign with sister, Amanda, and friend and colleague, Laurel.

In the day to day, Melissa took great enjoyment in simple pleasures like listening to music and rewatching her favourite old 80s movies. She loved connecting with her family, watching South Park with Liam, plotting father-daughter adventures, and dinners at the Keg with friends, especially Liberty, Alexis, and Sue and Lloyd. She was looking forward to strong-arming everyone she knew into a trip to meet up to see Beetlejuice 2 this fall.

A private cremation ceremony will take place with family in Alberta, and a small memorial service to celebrate Melissa’s life will be held in Winnipeg at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Epilepsy Canada and the United Way.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 17, 2024, Aug 17, 2024