ABELSON, Wendy Carol
Our beloved younger sister, passed away peacefully in Victoria on September 11, 2012. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Wendy was only 47 years old and her life followed a difficult and challenging path. Despite this, she was a great inspiration to all those around her. She published her life's journey in her book - A Quest For Healing, A Story Of Love - even while she was dealing with all the problems caused by her diabetes. Wendy will be greatly missed, but we know her spirit is now free and joyous as she moves into the next stage of her soul's journey.
Private cremation. Wendy's life will be celebrated in Calgary at a later date. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com
BIRTWISTLE, Carolyn
Death - September 7th, 2012
Carolyn Joyce passed away in Victoria on September 7th, 2012 at the age of 64. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Predeceased by her father, Russell, Carolyn is survived by her family; husband Ken, children Cherie (Irvin), Doug (Tessa), & Grant, grandchildren Anthony, Breanna, and Cohen, mother, Marie, sisters Bev and Debbie.
Memorial service to be held on Saturday, September 15th, 2012 at 2: 00 p.m. at The Well Centennial Park Baptist Church, 7577 Wallace Drive, Central Saanich. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saanich Peninsula Foundation - Palliative Care Unit.
DE MELO, Antonio Amaral
Born October 29, 1921, in Azores, Portugal, passed away September 9, 2012, in the comfort of his home and in the company of his daughter, Lina. He left this earth at the age of 90 and his memory will be cherished by his son, Tony; daughter, Lina; grand-children, Johanne and Eric Rufiange; and sons-in-law Jim Ernst, Real Rufiange, Edward Pedersen. He is pre-deceased by his wife Maria, his eldest daughter Marie Rufiange and infant child Gracina. Antonio immigrated to Canada in 1950 from the Azores, Portugal and worked in Quebec City and Kitimat before settling down in Dorval, Quebec, for the majority of his working years. He worked for Steinberg's Grocery chain until he retired. After his retirement, in 1989, he moved to Victoria, BC, where the climate was milder and the growing season longer so he could indulge in his passion for gardening. His other passions included food, cooking, old fashion wine making and devotion to his family. The family would like to thank the Portuguese Groupe de Terceira-idade (seniors group) for the years of enjoyment and companionship they provided. We would also like to thank his caregivers Hilda, Julietta and especially Evangeline Rojas for her compassion and caring in his final months. He was so well loved by so many people and will always be in our thoughts and hearts.
Prayer service will held at 7: 00 pm Thursday, September 13th at Our Lady of Fatima Church located at 4635 Elk Lake Drive, Victoria. An English/Portugues funeral service will be held on Friday, September 14th at 11: 00 am, also at Our Lady of Fatima Church, followed by interment at Royal Oak Burial Park (at Terraces by the mausoleum water fountain). Condolences may be offered to the family at www.sequoiagardens.com. Donations may be made to the Parkinson Society of Canada.
GILL, Avtar Kaur
January 1st, 1932 - September 10, 2012
With great sadness we announce the passing of Avtar, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Predeceased by husband Jagat Singh Gill, son-in-law Ajit and half-sister Gurmit. Avtar will be forever remembered and missed by her children, Joginder (Virginia), Nirmal (Lisa), Narinder, Jaspall (Shelley), Shaninder, Manjiat (Paul), Mingy (Robert), Nasibo, Surjan, Paulo (Pakar), and numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. After Avtar immigrated from Punjab, India in 1957, she settled in Victoria and devoted her life to raising her children. She worked for many years at Oak Bay Lodge and after retirement, dedicated her time to caring for her many grandchildren. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the Priory for the wonderful care they gave our dear mother.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the Khalsa Diwan Sikh Temple, 1210 Topaz Ave., Victoria, BC at 1: 00 pm.
PATTISON, Mary Elizabeth Law
Died at Royal Jubilee hospital on September 4, 2012 at 93. Born March 31, 1919 in Vermillion, Alberta to George and Elizabeth Law of Galston, Scotland, Mary was predeceased in 1997 by her husband Ken and is survived by five children, and ten grandchildren. She had a great career and a wonderful family. See earlier obituary.
Memorial service at GORDON HEAD UNITED CHURCH, 4201 Tyndall Ave, Victoria on Thursday, September 13 at 2: 00 p.m.
McCARRON, Bernard Wendolin
November 18, 1923 - September 7, 2012
After a struggle with cancer, Bernie McCarron died at age 88 in Royal Jubilee Hospital with his beloved wife, Mary at his side. Bernie was born within an Irish-Canadian family to Charles and Phyllis McCarron in Chatham, Ontario. He served as a navigator in the RCAF near the end of the Second World War, grateful he was never called upon for a bombing mission. After attending St. Michael's College, University of Toronto, and the Ontario College of Education, he went on to a career as an English high school teacher at St. Mary's Boys School in Calgary, later becoming its principal. In 1968 he moved to Victoria and ended up teaching 15 years at Victoria High School. After retiring in 1984, he intensified his involvement in the community of James Bay, serving as an editor and writer at the James Bay Beacon, as well as being chairman of the board of the James Bay Newspaper Society. When he left the Beacon in 2000, the newspaper ran a full page tribute to him. In the tribute, writer Tim Padmore opened his profile on Bernie this way: "Poet, teacher, reluctant warrior, community historian, listener, photographer, observer, always-willing helper, gentleman, friends, humorist, wise advisor. What a lot of people for the Beacon to lose all at once!" Bernie loved his James Bay neighbourhood, and selfpublished several books of his poems illustrated by photos he took as walked daily down its richly interesting streets. Bernie took interest in local, regional, and national issues and often wrote activist letters to the editor to the Times Colonist. Bernie is survived by his "cherished" wife, Mary; cousins, Miles (Jean) of Vancouver and Michael (Irene) of Wallaceburg, Ontario; nephews, Kevin and David McCarron; sister-in-law, Donna McCarron of Wallaceburg and niece, Maureen of Vancouver. He also predeceased a longtime family-like circle of friends, some of whom were once his students in Calgary. They are Bryan McGill, Penny and John Farrell, Glynnis and Lou Violini, John and Linda Driscoll, and Bill Cleary. He is predeceased by brothers, Pat and Charles and his sister, Theresa. A few days before his death, Bernie wrote his last haiku poem about a photo of a pilot boat heading back to Victoria Harbour within a gathering twilight:
Diligently, the Pilot heads back to harbour. Night, solemn and assured, gathers in all.
Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
REIMER, Gerald A.
November 21, 1937 - September 8, 2012
Gerry passed away peacefully at home with family at his side. He leaves his devoted and loving wife Shirley, his children Kathi-Jean (Dave) and Keith (Rica), grandsons Darren and Trevor, sister Carol (Barry), nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and the mother of his children, his first wife Tonia. Calling Victoria home for most of his life, Gerry graduated from Mount Douglas high school, Class of 55 and had a large circle of friends that he kept throughout his life. He loved sports, playing hockey and baseball in his younger years and then driving race cars as a young adult. He coached his daughters basketball teams and his sons hockey and lacrosse teams and Gerry and a few friends were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Saanich Minor Hockey Association. He also belonged to the Victoria Aqua Ski Club at Shawnigan Lake which played a big part in his life for many years. Gerry was a self made man in the truest sense. He worked hard all his life to hone the skills he needed to succeed in his early career as a draftsman and later as an electrician and a mapmaker, which led to building and running his own cartographic business in Victoria for 27 years. All his life he thrived on challenge and never found a hurdle too big to overcome. This trait served him well in his retirement when Gerry took up woodworking and scrollsaw work after having had a stroke. He built many beautiful wood pieces and lots of wonderful toys which he gave to family, friends and all the many children in his life. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the many people who assisted and supported Gerry as his health declined including the staff from Victoria Hospice, Beacon support workers and especially Dr. William Bullock.
A celebration of life will be held on October 13, 2012 at 2: 00PM at First Memorial Funeral Service, 4725 Falaise Drive. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Victoria Hospice Society or the Heart and Stroke foundation. Condolences may be offered at www.mem.com by searching Reimer.
MACLEAN, Roderick Allan
August 20th, 2011 - September 9th, 2012
With sadness we announce the unexpected and sudden passing of Rod MacLean at age 61. Survived by his children, Brandi MacLean, Dana MacLean (Becky), 'step-daughter' Christina Mayo, 3 grandchildren, 2 sisters, 2 brothers and 5 nieces and nephews. Born in Vancouver, his unconventional life was lived all over BC, and he spent his last 30 years in Victoria, the city he loved.
We will be honoring and celebrating his life, his extraordinary story telling, sense of humour, and enormous capacity for love on Saturday, September 15, 2012, 11: 00am at Sands Funeral Chapel in Victoria. Special thanks to all his doctors and nurses, the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre, St. Pauls Audiology Clinic and the staff at VGH. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the IDHHC or Dandelion Society.
MUNDY, Petronella Anne
(nee Calverley)
Anne Mundy passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 1st, 2012 at her home on Pender Island, BC, with family by her side. Anne was born in Oakville, Ontario on September 8th, 1925. She was trained as a registered nurse at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. She loved gardening, quilting, spending time with her grandchildren and walking with her beloved dog Amelia. Anne was predeceased by her husband, William Basil Mundy, in 1998. She is survived by her children Michael (Cindy), Paul, Debra, Pat (Sandy), Caroline (Ron) and Virginia (Bryce), and grandchildren Kyla, Christa, Trevor, Reno, Jessica, Tyrious, Alyssa, Nicholas, Devan, Levi, Hailey, Petra, Ys, Silvey, Forest, Sienna, Ginger, Zenah, Daphne, Grace, Isabelle and Victor, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relations and friends. The family would like to extend their thanks and gratitude to the wonderful caregivers Anne had caring for her during the last months of her life.
Let our lives be gentle, from this marked moment onward. Let time treat us well and ease us softly into eternity.
Let us walk by the seashore gazing out over its vast spaces. Going gradually into them in our minds.
So that when our souls soar unfettered from our old bodies we will enter a familiar element on practiced wings. And be at home.
W. Mundy 88/10/23
A service will be dedicated in memory of Anne at St. Peter's Anglican Church on Pender Island on Sunday, September 16th, 2012 at 11: 00 am. Reception tea to follow in the Parish Hall. Flowers gratefully declined, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Brooks Point Regional Park Campaign.
PARKER, Gladys Ellen Fiona
November 2nd, 1919 - September 6th, 2012
Fiona Parker passed away peacefully on September 6, 2012 at Rest Haven Lodge in Sidney. Born November 2, 1919 in Brighton, England to Walter and Hilda Sayers. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband, W.J. (Sam) Parker; children, Joyce, Pamela and Michael, 7 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and her sister, Ena, in England. After studying at William Booth International College in London, Fiona became a social worker. She was very active with the Salvation Army before immigrating to Canada in 1954 where she continued a long career in social work. Fiona and Sam moved to the Saanich Peninsula in 1989 where they were active in St. Mary's and St. Andrew's Anglican church, local gardening club, tourist information centre and other community activities including the Parkinson's Disease support group. Fiona also enjoyed traveling with her husband and meeting new people in many different parts of the world. The family extends sincere thanks to the staff at Beechwood Village and Rest Haven Lodge for the loving care they gave to Fiona.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Andrew's Anglican church, 9691 Fourth Street, Sidney, on Friday, September 14, 2012 at 2: 00 pm. In place of flowers, donations may be given to: Parkinson's Disease Centre, 813 Darwin Ave., Victoria BC, V8X 2X7.
PATTERSON, Sherri Lynn
It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our daughter and friend Sherri. She passed away on the 5th of September, 2012 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital at the age of 37 after a courageous battle with endometrial cancer. She is survived by her parents, Lorraine, Roger; brother Scott, nieces, Isabella and Madalyn. She will be fondly remembered for her smile and perseverance. She is now an Angel in Heaven.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 15th at 2: 00 pm at 4725 Falaise Drive, Victoria. Flowers are gratefully declined; instead, donations may be made to Canadian Ovarian Cancer Foundation for research.
