Phyllis Smallman
1945-2018

The family of author Phyllis Smallman wishes to announce the passing of their family matriarch, storyteller, beloved wife, and mother.

Phyllis grew up in the countryside of southern Ontario, where she spent her childhood accepting ill-considered dares from her four siblings, such as pig riding in a white frock. She met her life’s partner, Lee Smallman, during high school and quickly recognized a fellow adventurer and dreamer. At the tender ages of 17 and 21, Phyllis and Lee were married, and spent the next 56 years laughing, creating, building, sometimes bickering, but always loving. Phyllis was occasionally overheard saying to Lee, “When I want your opinion, I’ll jerk your chain.”

At an age where others retire, Phyllis and Lee moved across the country to Salt Spring Island, where they joined a lively community of artists and innovators. Phyllis went on to write the award-winning Sherri Travis mystery series, and more recently the Singer Brown series, Long Gone Man and Beach Kill. Those who spent time with Phyllis knew her as a caring person who loved fiercely, laughed loudly, and was always a friend to anyone in need. In keeping with her dark sense of humour, her last book was ironically titled Last Call, the final Sherri Travis mystery. The night Phyllis died, Last Call won a “Reader’s Favourite” Book Award. Our Phyllis knew how to make a grand exit.

At her request, there will be no final service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society.

RICHARD GEORGE MEECH
APRIL 23, 1954 – SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

There are no words that can capture the heartache of watching a starlit person slip through your fingers.

Richard George Meech was a humble, handsome, Harvard-educated man, full to the brim with heart, humour and grace. Driven by passion for wisdom, for the inner spirit, and for the elevation of the soul, Richard was enraptured with the great mysteries of the universe, the wonder of its garden planet and the sacred nature of all beings.

Blue eyes twinkled when he woke and never stopped. In every moment and every encounter there was curiosity and joy. His mastery was the art of living.

Richard’s colleagues couldn’t wait to embark on new projects, new adventures with him. He led bike trips through Europe decades ago that participants are still talking about – how can one forget gleeful, madcap, toga-clad dips in the Trevi Fountain?

Three years ago, after many successful years as a cutting-edge producer/director of documentary films, Richard moved from Toronto to Salt Spring Island, B.C., with his loving partner of 24 years, Kathryn Jill Rigby.

They started new lives. Changed their priorities. Conceived passion projects that ranged from saving orcas to healing the planet. Between them, there were no limits to what could be accomplished.

But a routine prostate biopsy on Wednesday, September 26 resulted in urosepsis and within 48 hours, the light of many people’s lives was extinguished.

Immediate family, Susan Meech and Craig Miller of Toronto; Sarah/Sally Meech and Kurt Hanzlik, Dubai; Peter Meech, Los Angeles; and Nan Meech and Sava Tatić in Prague are all in disbelief.

Adored nieces, nephews and in-laws, Maddy and Nathalie Hanzlik-Meech; Rade Meech-Tatić; Tom, Wendy, Kenzie, Olivia and Keegan Rigby of Toronto; Penny, Peter, Tom and Anna Lydon of Winchester, U.K.; Sally Rigby, Katie and Stephanie Donaldson of West Vancouver, B.C., will never forget their playful uncle and cherished brother-in-law.

Joan Stewart Rigby Clarke, 89, lived for laughter-filled visits with her treasured son-in-law. Richard’s own beloved mother Carol Meech suddenly passed away just weeks ago on September 12th.

Decades-old friends are bereft. New island friends are at a loss.

A Celebration of Richard’s life will be held in Toronto in December. Details will follow.

Condolences, photographs, memories may be forwarded to family members at meechandrigby@gmail.com.

Louise Fuoco
February 15, 1926 – September 17, 2018

Louise Fuoco, dearly loved, was born in Kamloops on February 15, 1926 to Donald Sinclair (Clair) Dalgleish and Leila Guardhouse Knight.

Louise’s mother passed away when she was five, and she was raised for several years by her grandmother Agnes Dalgleish. As as girl, Louise loved to ride horseback across the hills of Kamloops, dressed in cowgirl breeches. She looked forward to her summers at the family cabin at Lac LeJeune, where she could spend time with her sister Dorothy.

Louise married Santino (Santy) Gaetano Fuoco, her high school sweetheart, in Kamloops on July 14, 1947. During her life with Santy, who managed bakeries throughout western Canada, Louise lived in Grand Prairie, Alberta, Victoria, Nanaimo, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Calgary, before moving to Salt Spring Island in 1977, making lifelong friends along the way. The couple celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary at their seaside home in Vesuvius Bay, Salt Spring Island, and lived there happily for 28 years.

Predeceased by her husband in 2005, Louise leaves behind three children, daughter Theresa, and sons Russell (Star) and Michael (Karen), four granddaughters Holly (Dean), Kristi (Zeke), Leila (Max), and Nicole, and five great-grandchildren: Sophia and Eleanor Broadland and Ethan, Aubree and Ella Shook.

Louise was warmly welcomed into the Fuoco family and was especially close to her sister-in-law Tina Vigna. In 1954, Louise and Santy “won” a tiny cabin that they moved onto a waterfront lot at Scotch Creek on Shuswap Lake, and the Vigna family bought a property right next door. After selling the cabin in 1960, Santy and Louise returned to Shuswap in 2003 and built a summer home across the street from the original cabin. Louise loved her time at Shuswap, and at age 91, was delighted to take another dip in the lake she loved.

Louise was an accomplished artist with many talents—an award-winning quilter, seamstress, and knitter, whose great-granddaughters still wear her creations.

She was also an avid (and prizewinning) gardener, trained as a professional florist, and brought her artistry to Heritage Place on Salt Spring, where she lived for three years.
A longtime member of the Salt Spring Island Golf and Country Club, Louise played in many tournaments, and enjoyed the crazy antics of “the golf girls.” She also enjoyed a good game of mahjong.

Louise was a fierce protector and friend to elephants and supporter of the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. She loved animals, especially cats. She was a fan of Neil Diamond, Rod Stewart, Tony Bennett and military tattoos. Louise adored hearing the bagpipes, and was proud of her Scottish heritage.

In February, 2018, Louise moved to Sidney All Care Residence in Sidney, BC. A week before she passed away, Louise, whose famous smile could light up a room, was thrilled to be named Champion bowler at All Care’s weekly competition.

The family extends their appreciation and thanks to the staff at Heritage Place on Salt Spring Island and Sidney All Care for their excellent, compassionate attention to Louise during the last four years.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Louise can be made to The Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary, www.elephants.com or to Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, www.ladymintofoundation.com, 135 Crofton Road, Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1T1.

A Celebration of Louise’s Life will be held with Family and Friends in the Lower Mainland later in October. Louise will be forever missed.

Betty Pearl Delmonico
(nee Spanner)
September 21, 2018

Betty, 91, of Vancouver BC, peacefully passed away on September 21, 2018. She will be forever missed and lovingly remembered. Betty requested this be shared.

You can shed tears that she’s gone, or smile because she lived.

You can close your eyes and pray she’ll come back, or open your eyes and see all she’s left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live on yesterday, or be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember her and only that she’s gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back on life, or do what she’d want…Live, Love, Laugh and go on.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Foundation.

Norma Viola Bowen

Born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, April 30, 1930 Norma passed away on Salt Spring Island, BC October 2, 2018 with her family and friend at her bedside. She has left this world as courageously as she lived her life to be with her life partner Ivan who passed away 3 years ago. Norma is survived by three sisters Florence, Ruth, and Ruby living in Alberta. Norma has four children Charlotte (Jeff)Thompson, Salt Spring Island, BC and Gerald (Susan), Robert (Kathy), and Greg (Marla) of Edmonton, Alberta. She is also survived by her grandchildren Chris, Pat, Candice, Jessica, Kayla, Cole, Mathew, and Seth plus many great grandchildren.

Norma was a born care-giver having a long career as a CNA working several hospitals in Alberta and Saskatchewan. She and Ivan were very active square dancers spending hours and miles on the road attending many square dance events. Norma never had idle hands engaged in gardening, sewing, and quilting and Ivan had built her many custom tables or desks to suit her various projects.

Meadowbrook was Norma’s home on Salt Spring and she made many new friends and enjoyed the walkways around the residence with Missy her Yorkie at her side. Norma received excellent support and care from all the staff at Meadowbrook. She spend the last few days of her life at Landy Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island and she often commented on the excellent care by all the nursing staff. The family would like to express our thanks to the wonderful care Mom received in her final days. Thank-you to Drs. Reznick and Pendiville who supported her medical and emotional needs and a special thank-you to Patti Field and Missy making the final hours peaceful.
Internment will occur later in Edmonton at the side of her husband Ivan.

Robert (Bob) Arnold Ball
March 25, 1921 – September 17, 2018

Bob Ball passed away peacefully on Monday evening, in Greenwoods Eldercare Society facility, Ganges, Salt Spring Island at the age of 97.

His passions included music, photography, hiking and travelling which he did with zeal, as well as being a skilled woodworker and builder of canoes. He was a member of the Victoria Outdoor Club and the Salt Spring Island Trail and Nature Club.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, David and Naomi Ball, and his siblings Ruth, May and Jack. He is lovingly remembered by his wife Betty, sons Michael (Jenney), Tony (Sarah) England, granddaughters Christina (Steve) and Sarah (Mitch), and nephew Stephen (Tammy), as well as family in England and Australia.

He served with the RAF during WW II being stationed at the airfields in England, Canada and India. While posted to the RAF base at Patricia Bay, BC, he fell in love with the Saanich Peninsula and was determined to return to the area after the war. Thus it was that Bob immigrated to BC, with his first wife Nora and son Michael, in 1950. The family settled in the Royal Oak area of Saanich where he lived until his retirement from the Saanich Municipality in 1975.

It was 1975 that Bob met Betty Bell. Getting married in March 1976 they moved to Salt Spring Island and built their home on Mt. Belcher Heights. Here they lived until 2009 when they moved into Meadowbrook seniors living complex in Ganges.

Special thanks go to Dr. Beaver, Greenwood’s nursing staff, hospice volunteers, caregivers Janet Rayner and Maha Price, as well as hiking buddy and good friend Jeff Jones, for Bob’s excellent care.

In Lieu of flowers we would suggest a donation to the Salt Spring Conservancy or Greenwoods Elder Care foundation.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at the United Church, 111 Hereford Ave., Salt Spring Island, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2018.

Baba Hari Dass

The Salt Spring Centre of Yoga sadly announces the passing of our founder Baba Hari Dass on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 in California at the age of 95. Babaji provided an impeccable example of selfless service and spiritual practice for all his students. He guided thousands with his profound knowledge of yoga and Indian philosophy. Since the founding of the Salt Spring Centre in 1981, Babaji welcomed numerous seekers at our annual summer retreats and gave practical, insightful and humourous guidance to all.

A traditional Indian shraddha ceremony will be held at 10am on Sunday, October 7 followed by a feast at 12:30. Participants are requested to register by contacting the Centre at 250-537-2326 or info@saltspringcentre.com.

“Work honestly, meditate every day, meet people
without fear, and play!” ~Baba Hari Dass

Kimberley Jane Mailey (Chater)
August 11, 1955 – August 14, 2018

Kim was born August 11th, 1955, first born to Kathy and Bill Chater in Toronto, Ontario. She was the beloved older sister to Bob, Nancy and Susan, growing up in Toronto. She met and married Frank “Red” Coffey and had daughter, Corina.

Kim moved with her young family to the West Coast of BC and soon made Salt Spring Island her home.  Kim spent most of her adult life on Salt Spring Island. Here she married Bruce Mailey and had daughters Roxane and Susan.
Kim had many jobs over the years – working on fish boats, was a well loved nanny, worked at Hastings House, taught aerobics classes with Salty Sweaters, and then became the smiling face and manager at Mouat’s Clothing for many years. But most importantly she was a much loved mother to her three daughters.

Kim is predeceased by her mother, Kathy. She leaves behind her daughters Corina (Colin), Roxane and Susan, her father Bill (Susan), her sisters Nancy (Irella) and Susan (Paul), brother Bob (Pat) and grandchildren Hamish, Jackson, Emily, Makenna and Lillah who will all hold memories of Kim in her happier days. She was loved by many friends and family and will be missed.

In recent years Kim has struggled with depression and addiction. In memory of Kim we ask that you treat those who struggle with compassion.
Kim passed away on August 14th, 2018, at the age of 63, in Vancouver with her three daughters by her side.

The family will hold a Celebration of Life for Kim on October 6th from 1-4pm, at The Harbour House Hotel in The Crofton Room.