Because I have loved life,
I shall have no sorrow to die. Emily Burr
Mom truly loved her life, and she believed she was blessed with so much happiness throughout it.
She was born and raised in Vancouver and graduated from McGee High School, where she retained many long term friendships. Of course, the most significant meeting was the love of her life, Dad. They were in each other's grade one class, and started dating on and off since grade nine. A true love story.
She graduated from UBC and enjoyed her time there as a Sorority member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. From the photos and stories there, it's a wonder they even got any school work done!
After graduation, she became an Orthopedic technologist and worked at VGH and at Seattle Orthopedic Hospital.
Mom and Dad were married in 1955, and moved to Toronto, where Mom worked at a doctor's office until Christie was born. Dad was then transferred to Edmonton, where they expanded the family by one more daughter, me. They made good friends in Edmonton, but as true Westcoasters, were thrilled to transfer one more time to their home city- Vancouver.
After building their dream home in West Vancouver, the family grew by one more, Dad's namesake, James, better known as Jamie.
Mom and Dad were a great twosome, and always presented a united front when encouraging us along our paths. They were also the best of friends, participating together in badminton, skiing, bridge golf and sharing a passion for gardening.
Along with her dear school friends, Mom developed strong and enduring friendships with ski buddies, golf pals, and bridge mates. She had a great sense of humor and love to host and attend parties. We all have great memories of her annual Christmas Eve parties she hosted for our Aunts, Uncles, cousins and later their children - a highlight that showcased her supreme organizational and culinary skills.
Mom and Dad made a point of going out every Saturday night for date night, as well, then booked a week ski holiday with their close friends every year, where they took the time to relax and rejuvenate. There were so many photos of the great times they shared on and off the ski hill.
Golf was another passion for Mom, and she played her last game in October 2010. She had a great attitude towards the game, and we have heard from many of her fellow golfers how much her presence will be missed on the links.
Once thing that Christie, Jamie and I really cherish is memories of Mom and Dad's queen sized bed. It was a place where we would go as children when we had a bad dream, or just wanted the safety and comfort of being close to our parents. It was also a place where we celebrated birthdays! We would all climb in bed in the morning and the presents would magically appear from under the bed, and would be opened while surrounded by the whole family. In later years, whenever Christie or me would come to Qualicum to visit, we would always grab a cup of coffee and slip into bed with Mom to talk, or to share the paper. From Calgary, I would often grab a coffee on a weekend morning and call Mom from my bed to hers, just to chat. As Nana's grandchildren arrived, the bed was also a place for them to cuddle and watch T.V. The best place in the world to be.
Seventeen years ago, Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sh took the news with her regular aplomb, and chose aggressive treatment, fully supported by Dad, and chose not to focus on the negatives of the unfairness of this disease, as well, not wanting to worry her children.
Mom and Dad moved to Qualicum in 1995 and embraced the Island life, enjoying golf, bridge and the gardening scene, while making new friends and encouraging old ones to move from the mainland. Mom was involved in Senior buttons at both Eaglecrest and Pheasant Glen, and she really enjoyed it, as it gave her an opportunity to meet even more women who shared her passion for golf - or was it passion for socializing?
Whether it was a trip south or taking the kids to the beach, Mom embraced these events and holidays with zest.
After Dad's stroke three years ago, she became active at the Gardens Care Home where he lives now and ran the Green Thumb Club. Dad also proudly offered up her recipe for ribs at the men's lunch club, where it quickly became a favorite meal for the group. She made the best of her sudden separation from Dad, filling her lonely hours with projects around the house, such as painting, and became interested in trying out new recipes to keep her mealtimes interesting. We are all thankful for her wonderful neighbours who kept an eye on her and made her feel safe at night, when she missed Dad the most. Having Jamie close by to assist with the household chores also gave her comfort and company.
All of her grandchildren considered Nana and Papa's house a home away from home and it brought great joy to her to have them around as much as they were.
Mom always put her husband, her children and here grandchildren first, and her acceptance of the seriousness of her illness not only helped us through our grief, but showed us that she was satisfied with her life, and we were all comforted by her actions and attitude.
