Obituary of Crystal McGregor

CRYSTAL MCGREGOR (nee Heisler) Crystal fought a courageous and inspiring battle against cervical cancer for over two years and passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at the age of 35, with her husband Paul and mother Pam by her side. She was predeceased by her father David Heisler; grandfathers, Anton Heisler and Albert Koch. Crystal is survived by her husband Paul; children, Aija (8) and Zayden (2); mother Pam Heisler; sister Britt Heisler; grandmothers, Helen Heisler and Irene Koch; mother and father-in-law, Pam and Neil McGregor; sister and brother-in-law, Christine McGregor and James Layh; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. A wife, mom, daughter, sister, teammate, teacher and friend, Crystal was born and raised in Regina, and it is hard to imagine the impact she would have in such a short time. She showed exceptional talent in everything she did. Crystal demonstrated a high level of athletic skill in a variety of sports at a very young age, but her greatest love was basketball. Her usual soft spoken and caring demeanour was replaced with a fierce competitor when she stepped on the court. Crystal was a member of the University of Regina Women’s Basketball team that won the 2001 CIS National Championship. Her teammates throughout her basketball career (Crystal’s Cougars) remain some of her closest friends. Her athletic accomplishments are only outweighed by the impact she had on people throughout her life. You will not find a person who met Crystal who didn’t fall in love with her right from the start. She made everyone feel comfortable and welcome around her. Crystal loved working with youth. She taught at MacNeill Elementary School, where she loved the students and staff. Crystal also coached the school basketball team as well as a club basketball team up until her diagnosis in January 2012. Crystal and Paul married in 2011 and their family of three increased to four with the birth of Zayden in February 2012. Crystal’s diagnosis came seven days before Zayden was born and her cancer journey began. The bravery, grace and courage Crystal demonstrated during her battle inspired many people, even beyond her closest of friends. She experienced many challenges along the way, but amazingly, her attitude remained positive. Crystal’s love for her children was never more visible than the times running around on the soccer field with Aija and Zayden before soccer practices. She never wasted a moment with her kids. The lessons Aija and Zayden have learned from Crystal will help shape their future success. Although she will not be with her kids any longer, they both know that she will “Always Be With Them.” Crystal taught many things to many different people, but the most important lesson she taught was to her husband Paul, where she showed him what love truly means. The family would like to thank the staff of the Allan Blair Cancer Centre for their care and support, the numerous doctors and nurses who provided care to Crystal throughout her journey and finally the doctors and nurses from Ward 3A, Palliative Care at the Pasqua Hospital, who showed true compassion during her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations in Crystal’s memory, may be made to the Shine On Foundation, 3911 Thames Road, Regina, SK, S4V 3A5 or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hospitals of Regina Foundation, PO Box 1697 Stn Main, Regina, SK, S4P 3C6. A Celebration of Crystal’s Life will be held in the Auditorium of the Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive, Regina, SK on Monday, May 26, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.