It is with the deepest love, and most profound sadness that we share the news of Maria David-Evans’ passing on September 5, 2022. Maria’s memory will live on with her many friends and colleagues, but most meaningfully in the hearts of her three daughters, and their families; her best friend of over fifty years; and her recent companion. We take comfort in the belief that Maria will reunite with her soulmate Keith, who passed away in 2004, may they rest in peace.
Maria’s life was marked by a commitment to public service, through her time with the City of Edmonton, and later as Deputy Minister of a number of departments of the Government of Alberta. She served as President of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), Chair of the Edmonton Regional IPAC board, and an IPAC volunteer. In retirement, Maria found much fulfillment as an instructor at the University of Alberta; Interim President and CEO of Legal Aid Alberta; and as member of many boards including the External Advisory Panel for Alberta’s Auditor General, the Sturgeon County Assessment Review Board, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta Practice Review Board, the Social Research Demonstration Corporation, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Francis Winspear Center for Music, and Pro Coro Canada.
Maria received a number of awards for her contributions to the field of public administration and her community including the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, and most recently, the Alberta Lieutenant Governor’s Award.
Maria was a generous supporter of the arts, having founded a scholarship in the name of her late husband, Keith, at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and supported numerous arts organizations, including the Youth Orchestra of Northern Alberta - Sistema (YONA-Sistema).
With Keith, Maria won numerous medals for ice sculpting including a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.
Of all her accomplishments though, her role as matriarch of our family was the most significant. She was a stalwart friend to many, a doting grandmother to four wonderful young people, and would do, or be anything for her daughters. She was very proud of her Hungarian heritage — her family having come to Canada as refugees during the Hungarian Revolution— and loved to host elaborate dinners featuring her favourite traditional dishes.
Although Maria’s death leaves an aching void in our hearts and in our lives, she will be remembered for the generosity of love and spirit that she gifted to all of those in her life. Your memory will forever live-on in the hearts of those you touched, goodbye Maria.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, October 16 at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music located at 4 Sir Winston Churchill Square (99 Street and 102 Avenue). The main doors will open at 2:00 pm and the celebration begins at 3:00 pm. Reception to follow.
Expressions of sympathy can be made with donations to YONA-Sistema at www.winspearcentre.com/maria-david-evans-memorial
To send condolences, please visit www.connelly-mckinley.com
Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home
St. Albert Chapel
(780) 458-2222
