Linda Barry-Hollowell, who served as a member of the board of trustees of the church’s Pension Office Corp. and the pension committee of the Anglican Church of Canada, died on Jan. 23 after a long battle with leukemia. She was 56.

The wife of the former bishop of Calgary, Barry Hollowell, Ms. Hollowell practised law for more than 30 years. In 1998, she headed a task force that drafted the sexual harassment policy for General Synod, the church’s national office, and its councils and committees.

Aside from the church, organizations such as the YMCA and Calgary’s Trinity Foundation, which provides housing for the homeless, benefited from her legal experience. She also advocated for youth and battered women.

“Her enormous contribution to the work (of the pension board of trustees and pension committee) was a result of her astute legal mind combined with her intimate knowledge of the culture of the church,” said Judy Robinson, executive director of Pension Office Corp, in a statement. “Added to this was her wonderful sense of humour and her strong determination to make thoughtful decisions by balancing the needs of the mind and the heart. Her unwavering support of the Pension Office staff and her ongoing guidance were invaluable.”