Obituary of Alison Marya Matheson
Matheson, Alison Marya
It is with broken hearts that we lovingly mourn the death and celebrate the life of Alison of Regina, Saskatchewan, who passed away after an extraordinarily brief, two-week battle with cancer on the 12th of February, 2023 at 9:58 a.m.
Alison was the fourth and final child born to Justice William Roy Matheson and Margaret Joan Friel in Regina. Alison grew up in south Regina, attending Grant Road School, Massey School, and Campbell Collegiate before attending the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Her early life was filled with many extracurricular activities, participating in basketball and waterpolo during her grade school years, while also committing herself to a number of student organizations, such as her high school graduating class’ graduation and 10-year reunion committees. At home, Alison found a kinship with her family dogs, the bonds that she created with the pets of her childhood fuelled her advocacy of animal rights that defined a significant portion of her personal life in adulthood.
After Alison’s matriculation from the University of Saskatchewan, she spent her early adulthood working within Saskatchewan’s political scene, a political career that culminated in a four-year stint working on Parliament Hill for Wascana Member of Parliament Ralph Goodale. Alison returned to her hometown in the late 1990s in order to raise her son closer to family and pursue a career pivot in the Donor and Alumni relations field. She spent a number of years working for various organizations as a Donor and Alumni specialist before settling in to her position at Sask Polytech in 2007, a position that she held until she passed away.
Away from work, Alison was known for her benevolence, volunteering at the Regina Humane Society, Regina Food Bank, and for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, along with a number of individual events that she also volunteered for. Alison’s enthusiasm for caring and thoughtfulness were felt by all who came into her orbit, her presence will be greatly missed within the community.
The family wishes to thank all of the medical professionals who oversaw Alison’s care at the Regina General Hospital’s Short Stay and 6A Units, as well as the Pasqua Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit. The family is especially grateful for the compassionate and professional care given to Alison by Doctors Kamencic, Al Hayaki, Perron, Lee, Kott, and Johnson.
Alison leaves behind her son Thomas; her brother Bruce, his partner Patricia, his son Dallas, and Dallas’ son Silas; her brother Scott, his partner Doreen, and Doreen’s son Marcus; as well as her close-knit group of friends that she had maintained since grade school; numerous other family members and friends; and of course her three dogs, all of whom she had adopted from the Regina Humane Society. Per Alison’s wishes, there will be no public service but the family is planning a small, private celebration of life event later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Regina Humane Society, at https://reginahumanesociety.ca/how-to-help/donate/, or to the local animal welfare agency of your choice.
