In loving memory ~
Mom left this life after struggling so hard to stay; as her heart wore out she quickly and sadly lost so much of herself and the life she vibrantly embraced. Except for these last few months mom enjoyed 95 full, happy, lively years. We will miss her a lot. At the same time we know that she is in a much happier place and is having a great reunion with dad.
In 1928 mom, only a few months old, immigrated to Canada with her family to farm in Saskatchewan; they moved to Saskatoon after the drought and depression of the '30s. She met the love of her life, Duncan Hugh, when he, a taxi driver, drove her home after a fight with her ex-boyfriend; his fee was a date, and the rest is history. They raised two kids, kept a family home, a Candle Lake cabin, and then were snowbirds to Arizona; in every place they made lots of friends and had so much fun in whatever place or time they were at in their lives. Mom enjoyed cooking, gardening, all kinds of arts and crafts, sewing, travelling, and spending time with her family. She received Red Cross pins for donating blood, trophies for bowling, and gave great parties with dad. After dad died, she moved to Courtenay to begin a new chapter in her life. Until last July when she decided to move to Ocean Front Village residence, she lived in her own apartment, cooked great meals for us, drove her (younger) friends in the "Six Pack" to their activities, loved her bus trips all over, walked downtown almost every day, and crocheted and donated over 100 blankies for the children at YANA, the Women's Transition House, and for the Child Development Association's telethon auction. She was generous, kind, feisty, active, funny, a trooper. As her health declined she was still sharp as a tack, and really ticked off at losing her breath and energy, mobility, dignity, and having to rely on others--we totally got it, Mom.
Our heartfelt thanks to the caring friends who continued to phone, visit, and connect with mom during her difficult last months. Her new OFV friends, despite not knowing her well, checked in with her and gave her a boost (as she drank her Boost). Our thanks to Dr. McCallum who gave mom lots of time, care, and arranged so many things for her comfort. The home support nurses and aides were so helpful and sensitive, and when in hospice for her last few days, the special nurses there cared for mom with skill and sensitivity. When told in February that her health was failing, mom told us, "I want that MAID thing, in case it gets too bad!" and Dr. Daws and Dr. Young were wonderful with her setting that in place; her anxiety eased with having the option of choosing her ending on her terms. Mom decided to turn in her 'bus ticket' the day after what would've been her and dad's 76th wedding anniversary.
Mom's survived by her daughter, Linda McLean (Comox), son Don Campbell (Nanaimo), granddaughters Alex and Crystal, great-grandchildren, the "3 C" nieces, and was predeceased by her husband, parents, brother and sister-in-law, grandson Hugh, and relatives here and in Germany.
No service by mom's request. We're taking her home to Saskatoon to be buried with dad. If you'd like to make a donation in her memory, one of the three organizations to which she donated her blankies would love that. If you'd like to share a memory of mom, please email her "kids" at MomMemories@shaw.ca.
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