Nov. 9, 1950 — June 9, 2025
Holly passed away at the age of 74 on Monday, June 9, 2025, at her home.
Holly was born Nov. 9, 1950 in Calgary to Ernest and Doris Thygesen. She grew up in the Hillhurst area of Calgary and graduated high school from Queen Elizabeth High School.
Her first job was in housekeeping in the health care system and she then went on to study art at the University of Calgary in the BFA program.
Holly was always an amazing painter and always had a great interest and ability to create. Throughout her life she participated in many art exhibits, both group and solo, and received several awards and commissions. She has paintings in the AFA permanent collection.
Holly met her future husband Gordon Perret at university, and they were married on Aug. 2, 1975. In 1978 they moved north to Grande Prairie where her husband Gordon was hired to teach art.
In the 32 years they lived there; Holly and Gordon had two sons, Matthew and Evan.
Holly and her family had many great summers camping and travelling around western Canada and the U.S. She worked at print shops for a while, day-cared kids but for most of the time there she worked as a teaching assistant for the Grande Prairie Public School Division. Holly and her husband both retired in 2010 and moved back to southern Alberta and settled in Fort Macleod to be closer to family.
Holly is survived by her husband Gordon; two sons Matthew, and Evan and his wife Mirinae; grandson Lucas; four sisters, Tina, Cynthia, Heather, and Susanne; mother-in-law Stella Perret; and sisters-in-law Carol and Brenda. Holly was preceded in death by her parents; brother Alan; brothers-in-law Brian and Bob; and many good friends and relatives.
A celebration of life will be announced this fall.