The family of a popular University of Calgary professor has confirmed the woman died last week, after a battle with the H1N1 virus that lasted several weeks.
CTV Calgary confirmed the news with the family of Dr. Margo Husby-Scheelar, 64.
Husby-Scheelar passed away on Feb. 13 after a month-long battle with the illness.
Her son, Greg Scheelar, told CTV Calgary that his mother checked into a Calgary hospital about four weeks ago, after battling what she thought was a bad cold or flu for a few days.
She was diagnosed with the virus a short time later.
The accomplished scholar and professor had nearly completed a Master of Social Work degree at the time of her death, it would have been her fourth degree.
The U of C community has been mourning the loss of the beloved instructor, calling her “an inspired teacher and a great friend.”
“If she was in your corner, you had someone fighting for you,” Greg Scheelar said. “There are people all over the world, literally around the world, that would have been touched by what she did, not just as a teacher but as a mentor and friend.”
As for why she died, Scheelar said he was surprised to hear the virus, that made headlines a few years ago, played a role in his mother’s death.
“I thought this was done, I thought this was over,” Scheelar said.
Alberta Health Services officials said six weeks into 2013, there were ten cases of influenza that required hospital care related to Influenza A (H1N1) in the entire province.
A funeral service for Dr. Husby-Scheelar has been scheduled for Tuesday in Calgary.
