Heather Krull

Krull, Heather

On January 15, 2024, Heather Krull, aged 70, passed away peacefully in the presence of her family.

Heather was born February 19, 1953, in Vancouver B.C., to Ron and Joan McNeill.  She grew up in Kerrisdale, a suburban area of Vancouver.  After High School she worked at various part-time jobs while attending Vancouver Community College, studying psychology and biology.   

Looking for full time employment in 1972 she joined the Vancouver Neurological Centre and was there for 3 years.   While there she met a charming young office equipment salesman named Don Krull.  She took pity on the young man and agreed to go out on a dinner date, expecting to never see him again.  Turns out she married him a year later, in September 1975.

It didn’t take Don long to realize that selling typewriters wasn’t for him, and in 1974 he started a career in Banking.  He held several short-term posts with CIBC in the Vancouver area, while Heather worked for the B.C. branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada as executive director, and then the B.C. Heart Foundation as area coordinator.

Late in 1977 Don was transferred and they moved to Fernie B.C.  In 1979 Don joined the Bank of Montreal in Kelowna B.C.  While there, Heather gave birth to their two children, Melissa in 1979 and Matthew in 1982.  Subsequent transfers took them to Nelson B.C., Prince George B.C. and finally to Ottawa in 1989.

While in Nelson and Prince George Heather became interested in Clinical Pastoral care.  In 1990 she enrolled in Carleton University and graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Psychology degree.  Two years later she completed her Masters of Pastoral Care from St Paul University.  After graduating Heather became a part time chaplain at the Queensway Carleton Hospital, which eventually became a full-time position for her.  One of her proudest accomplishments was the establishment of a perinatal bereavement program at the hospital.

The hospital wasn’t the only place Heather utilized her pastoral skills.  She was a police chaplain with the Ontario Provincial Police, and she was an active member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains.   She especially enjoyed coming home from one annual conference with a range target showing how well she was able to use a shotgun.

Outside of her professional life, Heather had a variety of interests.  She loved to sing and was part of two contemporary Christian music groups in Ottawa, Firefall and before that, Rainbows & Crosses.  She loved to sew and quilt, and she produced wonderful quilts for family and friends.  She loved to fish but was never happy about having to get up at some unholy hour to do so.

Heather is survived by her husband Don, her son Matthew & wife Cynthia, her daughter Melissa & husband Sam, her two grandchildren Lea & Riley, and her brother John McNeill.

A celebration of her life will be held February 19^th between 2:00 and 4:00 PM, at Equinelle Golf Club, 140 Equinelle Drive, Kemptville.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the ALS Society (https://donate.als.ca/page/116715/donate/1).  Comments, remembrances, enquiries can be sent to heather.anne.mcneill.krull@gmail.com