A Legacy of Love: Honoring Theresa Kolberg and Her Son, Ian

Some people move through the world quietly, leaving behind a trail of kindness that continues to shine long after they are gone. Theresa Kolberg was one of those people.

For years, Theresa gave herself to the Battlefords community in ways that can’t be fully measured on paper. She volunteered not because she had to, but because she believed in showing up. Showing up for neighbors. Showing up for families. Showing up for the Foundation and the hospital that meant so much to her. She offered her time, her hands, her generosity, and most of all, her heart.

Anyone who crossed paths with Theresa would speak of her steady presence, warm, humble, and sincere. She didn’t volunteer for recognition. She volunteered because she cared. Her commitment to the Foundation spanned years, touching countless moments, events, and people. In every season of her life, she found ways to give back.

But what made Theresa’s story even more powerful was the love she carried for her son, Ian. He lived in her heart every day, and she carried his memory as both a blessing and a source of strength. The legacy gift she made thoughtfully planned and lovingly given, was not just from her. It was from both of them. A mother’s love reaching forward into the future.

Theresa chose to leave a bequest to support the Palliative Care Department at Battlefords Union Hospital because she understood something profound:every person deserves dignity, comfort, and compassion at the end of life.She knew that palliative care is not just about medical needs, it is about humanity. It is about ensuring that no one faces their final days without support, gentleness, and kindness.

Her gift will help families in their most vulnerable moments. It will bring comfort to those nearing the end of their journey. It will offer space for loved ones to sit together, to hold hands, to say the words that matter most. Her legacy ensures that the care delivered in those rooms carries the same gentleness that she offered so freely in life.

Theresa’s bequest is more than a donation it is an act of love.

A love for her community.

A love for those who will walk a difficult road.

A love for Ian, carried forward in her name and his.

Her story reminds us that a legacy is not defined by the size of a gift, but by the spirit behind it. Theresa gave her whole life in small, meaningful ways, and now, through her thoughtful planning, she continues to give in a way that will lift others for years to come.

We are humbled, grateful, and deeply honored to celebrate Theresa Kolberg’s life, her heart, and her remarkable generosity. Her legacy will live within the walls of the Palliative Care Department, touching families she will never meet, offering comfort she will never witness, and ensuring that dignity and compassion remain at the center of care.

This is the power of a legacy.

This is the lasting imprint of a woman who loved her community deeply.

And this is the gift of Theresa and Ian forever woven into the story of healthcare in the Battlefords.