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With sadness and grief, we say good-bye for now to our beloved Nicole Catherine Guinan, who crossed the rainbow bridge on March 31, 2025. Nicole was born on March 10, 1986, in Saskatoon, and spent early time in Watrous before moving to Westlock, Alberta with her wonderful parents Dan & Roxanne, and her loving brothers Curtis and Christopher. Over the years, she followed her decorated husband Rob to homes in Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Victoria, BC, and Wainwright, ending up on the family homestead in Sturgeon County with their two beautiful children and two cherished dogs. For those wondering and worrying, rest easy. She took great comfort during her last days knowing that Rob would take wonderful care of the other loves of her life, sweet Gavin and Layla. She had peace about her family, even as she was forced to leave them on this world far too soon. In true hero’s fashion, Nicole’s worries about her dear dogs Shadow and Fawn, were eased when Dan and Roxanne took Shadow to their home to have a piece of Nicoles heart (Shadow) and to give him all their animal loving attention. Nicole got her love for dogs from her father Dan. Nicole’s ability to rest her mind and heart because of this pledge shouldn’t be understated. Dan & Roxanne, you gave her peace. Nicole radiated kindness, had a wicked and devastating sense of humour, and always, always knew what the right answer was. She took time to evaluate situations without prejudice, never took the easy way out of a problem and always respected and took into consideration other peoples’ opinions before making a decision. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if Nicole was in charge of it all? Nicole was never the loudest person in the room. She was much smarter than that. She took in knowledge and used it to help others, and there’s no number high enough to measure how many she helped in her short time with us. She did it with humbleness and grace. Nicole was and remains the perfect human being. Krista often told her she was her favourite. She was many people and dogs favourite. |
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People, sure. All of us here were helped numerous times in our time with Nicole, whether that’s her longtime friends Erin and Leah, or her sister in law Danielle. She also made heavy impacts on her coworkers Robin, Rob, Heidi, Fernando and the other countless employees lucky to have come into contact with her.
She joined Snapshot Deliveries as a Human Resources Manager and excelled, to nobody’s surprise. She is greatly missed by those with the company who became close friends with her in addition to being a highly respected and valued member of that team.
Nicole loved music, played in the high school band and cheered on her beloved Edmonton Oilers. She also had a talent for gardening, finding peace in nurturing her flowers and plants.
But let’s talk a little bit, if we can, about the dogs.
Animals meant a great deal to Nicole from early on in life. She was drawn to dogs in particular. As has been relayed by both Roxanne and Rob, as a child she would at times disappear, but her parents didn’t have to look far to find her. She would be at their neighbours visiting their Pomeranians.
Nicole was the Vice President and Adoptions Manager of Alberta Homeward Hound Rescue Bureau and devoted countless hours to saving dogs.
She brought a high level of class and professionalism to important her roles in the rescue, which covered an enormous amount of ground.
She was the ultimate match maker, pairing good hearted people with rescued dogs of all shapes and sizes, from big friendly Alberta Specials that felt lucky to have an inside house to small, entitled dogs that lived to drive humans crazy. She and her team had an incredible success rate, matching well over 600 dogs with their forever homes. Think about that for a moment.
If that is all she did, we’d be rightly proud of her contributions to the rescue. But we’d only be telling a small fraction of her contributions to good in the world.
In many ways, Nicole rescued the rescue itself when only she could.
Her dear friend Krista contracted Guillain Barre syndrome in 2021 which left her with no control of her muscles and only being intubated kept her alive. Nicole asked if she could take a larger role and Krista felt a kind of relief in her vulnerable state that nobody else could have provided.
From that point on, Nicole and Krista became sisters and the very best friends. They spoke every single day. About rescue, yes, but also about life and love and friends and family. They supported one another. They complimented one another. They checked one another. They improved one another.
Nicole inspired people into action. She was the first one charging into battle and the last one to leave the fray. She selflessly gave and gave.
Two of our kind volunteers from the rescue, Sara and Erin, sent flowers to Krista’s home after her passing with a note from Erin stating that Nicole had a “servant’s heart” and nothing more true could be said.
Nicole left the world a better place than it was for the 39 years almost to the day that she walked among us. Nicole did no harm to anybody.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the dogs through Nicole’s passion for Alberta Homeward Hound Rescue Bureau. That will allow Krista, Chelsey, Jennifer, Paige, Lisa, Andi, Chris, Liz, Sara, Hayley, Brittney, Brittany, Nadia, Kellie, Kelly-Ann, Kendra, Shauna, Brendy, Saffron, Darcy, Tanya, Brenda, Daintre, Danica, Aly, Michelle, Shaelynn, and so many, too many to name if anyone wants to go enjoy the sunshine.
Nicole’s last days were spent with the ones that she loved the most, and those same people were appreciated so much by Nicole.
During those last days, each time that anybody left her bedside she told them “thanks for coming”.
Laying, weakened and full of cancer, Nicole’s only concern was to be sure to show appreciation to the people she loved.
If you’re reading this, Nicole loved you.
Better said, if you’re reading this, Nicole LOVES you.
Present tense.
Because…
We know…
She’s with SO many dogs right now.
Sorry to drop names but she’s with Jayda and Stella, Presley, Piper and Ellis, and other Stella, and Porter. She’s with your dog that you lost. Your dog you lost as a kid, or last year, or last week is so happy right now.
We miss you Nicole, but as you promised, you’ll be with us always. You’ll guide our decisions. You’ll inform our choices. We’ve got it from here.
Rest easy, dear Sister.
We feel you around us every day.
She joined Snapshot Deliveries as a Human Resources Manager and excelled, to nobody’s surprise. She is greatly missed by those with the company who became close friends with her in addition to being a highly respected and valued member of that team.
Nicole loved music, played in the high school band and cheered on her beloved Edmonton Oilers. She also had a talent for gardening, finding peace in nurturing her flowers and plants.
But let’s talk a little bit, if we can, about the dogs.
Animals meant a great deal to Nicole from early on in life. She was drawn to dogs in particular. As has been relayed by both Roxanne and Rob, as a child she would at times disappear, but her parents didn’t have to look far to find her. She would be at their neighbours visiting their Pomeranians.
Nicole was the Vice President and Adoptions Manager of Alberta Homeward Hound Rescue Bureau and devoted countless hours to saving dogs.
She brought a high level of class and professionalism to important her roles in the rescue, which covered an enormous amount of ground.
She was the ultimate match maker, pairing good hearted people with rescued dogs of all shapes and sizes, from big friendly Alberta Specials that felt lucky to have an inside house to small, entitled dogs that lived to drive humans crazy. She and her team had an incredible success rate, matching well over 600 dogs with their forever homes. Think about that for a moment.
If that is all she did, we’d be rightly proud of her contributions to the rescue. But we’d only be telling a small fraction of her contributions to good in the world.
In many ways, Nicole rescued the rescue itself when only she could.
Her dear friend Krista contracted Guillain Barre syndrome in 2021 which left her with no control of her muscles and only being intubated kept her alive. Nicole asked if she could take a larger role and Krista felt a kind of relief in her vulnerable state that nobody else could have provided.
From that point on, Nicole and Krista became sisters and the very best friends. They spoke every single day. About rescue, yes, but also about life and love and friends and family. They supported one another. They complimented one another. They checked one another. They improved one another.
Nicole inspired people into action. She was the first one charging into battle and the last one to leave the fray. She selflessly gave and gave.
Two of our kind volunteers from the rescue, Sara and Erin, sent flowers to Krista’s home after her passing with a note from Erin stating that Nicole had a “servant’s heart” and nothing more true could be said.
Nicole left the world a better place than it was for the 39 years almost to the day that she walked among us. Nicole did no harm to anybody.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the dogs through Nicole’s passion for Alberta Homeward Hound Rescue Bureau. That will allow Krista, Chelsey, Jennifer, Paige, Lisa, Andi, Chris, Liz, Sara, Hayley, Brittney, Brittany, Nadia, Kellie, Kelly-Ann, Kendra, Shauna, Brendy, Saffron, Darcy, Tanya, Brenda, Daintre, Danica, Aly, Michelle, Shaelynn, and so many, too many to name if anyone wants to go enjoy the sunshine.
Nicole’s last days were spent with the ones that she loved the most, and those same people were appreciated so much by Nicole.
During those last days, each time that anybody left her bedside she told them “thanks for coming”.
Laying, weakened and full of cancer, Nicole’s only concern was to be sure to show appreciation to the people she loved.
If you’re reading this, Nicole loved you.
Better said, if you’re reading this, Nicole LOVES you.
Present tense.
Because…
We know…
She’s with SO many dogs right now.
Sorry to drop names but she’s with Jayda and Stella, Presley, Piper and Ellis, and other Stella, and Porter. She’s with your dog that you lost. Your dog you lost as a kid, or last year, or last week is so happy right now.
We miss you Nicole, but as you promised, you’ll be with us always. You’ll guide our decisions. You’ll inform our choices. We’ve got it from here.
Rest easy, dear Sister.
We feel you around us every day.