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PAMELA MARGARET MOWBRAY

Pamela Margaret Mowbray (formerly Thomas, née Lynch) born in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 1, 1932, passed away peacefully in Port Moody on Mar. 1, 2010. Predeceased in 2002 by her husband and best friend for almost 50 years, Steve Thomas. Dearly loved and survived by her second husband Wilf Mowbray; her four beloved children Sandra Sellick, Stephen Thomas, Colleen Mudry-Ross, and Carolyn Bond; and their spouses Roger, Lydia, Hal, and Russell. Pam was the proud nana of five grandchildren: Steven, Erin, Natasha, Genevieve, and Stephenie. She enjoyed a close relationship with her niece, Linda. She is also survived by Wilf’s children, Susan and Chris.

From 1951 to 1953, Pam worked for the Treasury Department of the Fijian government in Suva. She arrived in Vancouver aboard the “SS Orsova” in 1955 and started work in the Marine Building. She married Steve in 1956 and together they raised their four children. In the early 1980s, Pam returned to school and went on to work in the administration office at Brentwood Mall and later for the Burnaby Public Library.

Residents of Burnaby for over 30 years, Pam and Steve retired to Salt Spring Island in 1992 where they built their dream home on Beddis Road and enjoyed the company of their island friends. They were lifetime members of the Salt Spring Island Sailing Club and Pam was a volunteer at Greenwoods. After Steve’s passing, Pam lived in Coquitlam until her marriage to Wilf in 2008. Pam and Wilf lived on the quay in New Westminster overlooking the passing scene on the Fraser River. Always an ardent sports fan, Pam followed the BC Lions, the Vancouver Canucks, and her favourite tennis players. She was a passionate animal lover with a soft spot for elephants, cats, and bears. Pam was a long-time member of the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals, an avid reader, and an ace Scrabble player. Beautiful music and flowers added much pleasure to her life. In 2007 she co-authored a memoir, “Remembering a Kensington Childhood”. Pam will be forever loved and missed.

The family would like to express much gratitude to Pam’s physicians and to the staff and volunteers at the Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody. At Pam’s request, there will be no service. Friends wishing to remember Pam with a gesture of kindness may consider a donation to the Crossroads Hospice Society.

DALE OSTAPOWICH

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July 8, 1951 – February 28, 2010

After a long battle with cancer, Dale Ostapowich passed peace-fully at Lady Minto Hospital on Sunday, February 28, 2010. Dale was born in Russell, Manitoba, the only child of Lena and Mike Ostapowich. His early earthworks with childhood Tonka toys on a Manitoba farm became a lifelong vocation as a civil engineer, taking Dale to Alberta, northern B.C., the Yukon and ultimately to the west coast. Along the way he was joined by wife Glynnis and then son Kevin. They settled on Salt Spring in 1993, where Dale enjoyed his other passions of boating, fishing and golf along with his continued engineering work.

An informal memorial will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic church in Ganges on Saturday March 27, 2010 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Dale asked that donations be made to the Lady Minto Hospital foundation or to the B.C. Cancer Society.

His family is grateful beyond words to Dr. David Woodley, the staff of Lady Minto Hospital and the Bessy Dane Hospice for their wonderful care and support in Dale’s final days.

CARRIE LOUISE CUNNINGHAM

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1910 – 2010

Passed away peacefully at Greenwoods on Feb. 24, 2010 just 5 days before her 100th birthday. Born to Louise S. Davis, noted educator, and Albert B. Davis, engineer, in New Orleans. Carrie Louise met Cyril Cunningham from Victoria, her future husband, when he was working for her uncle and training to be an entomologist in New Orleans. Carrie Louise and Cyril moved to Canada when she was 19 years of age. They were married for 63 years. The couple retired in 1965 on Salt Spring along with other members of her bridge club, who were looking for adventure. Carrie Louse was a treasurer for the North Vancouver School’s band and the North Shore Victorian Order of Nurses during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Carrie Louise was known for her wit and Salt Spring bridge tournaments. Mourned by her son, Allen (Maxine), nephews Gary (Ernell) and Allen Jr., nieces Jerie-Lynn (Mike) and Peggy (Ray) and friends and Greenwoods’ staff. Special thanks to Greenwoods for the many years of wonderful care and thoughtfulness both at the daycare level and in permanent residence. Their dedicated staff and caring personnel made her life trulty worthwhile during her later years. A celebration of her life, New Orleans style, was held at home. A graveside service for family is planned.

BUD MORTON

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Bud Morton passed away peacefully at the Moog and Friends Hospice House, Penticton, BC on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Born in Ladysmith, BC in 1928, he lived for many years in North Vancouver, Victoria and Salt Spring Island before moving to Penticton in 2000. He was a professional salesman all his life and loved it. He leaves to mourn his loving wife of 59 years, Rita (Ricky); daughter, Sharon of Foxboro, On.; granddaughter, Amberlee of Toronto and Lorna & Andy of Berkshire, England; sister-in-law, Dolores MacDonald of Penticton; brother-in-law, Norman (Ruth) of Seattle Wa.; good friends of 55 years, Vic & Day Gadsby and family of Penticton, Iona Larson of Victoria and his many friends on Salt Spring Island. Our grateful thanks to Dr. Kennedy, Colleen and the angels of Moog House for their care and kindness. No service by request. A memorial at a later date will be held on Salt Spring Island.

WILLIAM WOWCHUK

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On February 22, I lost my beloved husband, Bill, after his brave struggle with cancer. He was a much loved brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend. Bill was born on August 14, 1936, in Dauphin, Manitoba, the second youngest of eight, to William and Christina. They came from Ukraine in 1925; this heritage was always important to him. His first memories were of farm life. In 1941, the family moved to Hamilton, Ontario. In 1945, they came to Victoria where the older siblings stayed after the family returned to Hamilton in 1950. In 1954, Bill joined the army (RCEME) where he trained and worked as a gun mechanic, often on tanks, which interested him for the rest of his life. He was a proud Canadian and enjoyed the army, especially two years in Germany, and the opportunity to train in sports – he was very good at track and field.

In 1960, Bill left the military, returned to Victoria, and completed high school while working a night job. He always loved learning, so he carried on to the University of Victoria, where we met. After our marriage in 1968, we moved to Kingston, where Bill completed an MSc at Queen’s University on a scholarship. In 1971, we returned to visit the family farm on Prevost Island and stayed for seven years. This was a happy time for us, living in a small log cabin by the sea. Bill worked very hard on the farm and tackled any job – he was thorough in everything he did, always achieving the best he could. He was like a son to our father, Hubert. Then followed six years in Port Alberni where Bill became the production manager of a large salmon farm; this was a pioneering time in aquaculture to which he was pleased to contribute. In 1984, we again returned to Prevost; Bill loved the farm, the land, and the animals, with which he was patient and caring. He made beautiful fences of expertly split cedar posts, kept machinery running, and could solve many problems through innovation. He cared lovingly for our late mother, Jean. Bill had many interests: history, languages, science, world events, music, and bird watching; he always looked forward to learning new things. He was kind, generous, fair and just, a vital and welcoming person who was always ready to help others and to share his knowledge. Bill was an exceptional man and we were blessed with many happy years. He will forever live in our hearts.

Predeceased by brothers Nicholas, Steven, and Lloyd, sister Lena Dorosh, three nieces and a nephew, and sister-in-law Maureen de Burgh, Bill is survived by his dear wife Sheila, brother Michael, sisters Ann (Jim) Fortune, Jean (John) Abernathy, sisters-in-law Barbara and Susan de Burgh, nieces and nephews and their families, and many friends.

I would like to thank our family and the many friends who have helped me get through the past two months. Thank you also to David, Mark, Paul, Ben, Harold, Diana, Brad, Garth, Mike, Lew, Lori and Katie for all they have done on Prevost.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints By the Sea, Ganges, Salt Spring Island at 2 pm March 21 followed by a reception. If desired, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to: The William Wowchuk Memorial Scholarship, Department of Biology, University of Victoria (http://web.uvic.ca/givingtouvic/givenow/online_login.php or phone 250-472-4210 UVic Development Office). This graduate scholarship honours Bill’s lifetime interest in cell biology.

BRIAN SWINBURNE

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passed away Sunday afternoon, February 14th, 2010.

Brian was born September 8th 1946

in Sunderland, England.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, February 25th, 10:30 am

at Stubberfield Chapel

7221 Duncan Street, Powell River. 

Reception to follow at Brian’s house.

BARBARA DIANE REYNOLDS

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May 22, 1961 – February 10, 2010

 

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Barbara. She was a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Predeceased by her husband Roger Morritt, mother Lois and sister Anne. She leaves behind her cherished son Zachary, father Harvey, sisters Judy (Ian), Cindy (Dan), Shirley (Russell) and Deborah (Ernie). Special thanks to the staff at BC Cancer Vancouver Centre for their extraordinary care and compassion shown to Barbara and her family. In lieu of flowers, donations to the BC Cancer Society is  greatly appreciated. An informal celebration of Barb’s life to be held on February 20th at 1:30 pm, Columbia-Bowell Chapel, 219-6th Street, New Westminster, BC.

EDUARDO CANALES

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1944 to 2010

Our beloved father and a friend to many, Eduardo Froylan Canales, passed away on January 31, 2010. He was vacationing in Merida, Yucatan with daughters Melissa and Leticia Canales. Eduardo was born in Mexico City in 1944, and lived on Salt Spring for over 25 years. Upon learning of his illness, it was their dream to travel to Mexico as a family, and explore their Mexican heritage. Melissa and Leticia feel very fortunate and blessed to have had this precious time with their father in the weeks before his passing.

Eduardo was a devoted Saturday Market vendor for over 20 years, and a compassionate and loving father.

He will be greatly missed, love is eternal.

A gathering of his Island friends will be held at a date yet to be determined.

MORTON BROWN STRATTON

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March 24, 1916 – January 29, 2010

Beloved Salt Spring resident of forty years, Morton B. Stratton died peacefully in Lady Minto Hospital on January 29th, 2010. By his side, as always, was Margaret (Biz) Stratton, devoted wife for 74 years. Services for Mort will be held at Salt Spring United Church on Saturday, February 6, at 11 A.M.

Mort was born in Moylan, Pennsylvania, son of John Alfred and Isadora Stratton. His family belonged to the Middletown Friends Meeting . Mort attended high school at Westtown Quaker Boarding School graduating second in his class of 369 students and was Valedictorian of his senior class. He attended Earlham College, received a Masters degree from Tufts University and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1942. Mort was a professor of History at Denison University in Granville, Ohio from 1943 until 1976. In 1950, Mort took his young family and his Hudson car to Montpellier, France, where they lived for a year while Mort studied at The University of Montpellier. A second sabbatical leave was taken at Harvard University where he received a grant from the Ford Foundation to research the feasability of introducing Asian studies into liberal arts colleges.

Mort married Margaret Barker, his grammar school sweetheart, in 1936 . They had three children, Peggy, Nancy and John, whom they raised on a gentleman farm in Granville, Ohio. After lecturing on European history, Mort milked his cows and fed his chickens before sitting down to dinner.

Mort was drafted into the Army in 1945 as a Conscientious Objector and served as a Medic in the Phillipines. He recalled with humor the first injection that he gave where he bent the needle in a poor soldier’s derriere!

Mort and Biz traveled worldwide and found Salt Spring Island one of the most beautiful destinations on earth. They purchased 21 acres on Mt. Belcher in 1970, built a home and retired full time there in 1976 . For the past 40 years Mort and Biz have been active in the community. Mort taught Power Squadron courses, researched the history of agriculture on Salt Spring and was a contributing author to the book, Salt Spring Island, The Story of an Island. Both Mort and Biz worked tirelessly and were instrumental in the establishment of the Meadowbrook Retirement Community where they have resided for 6 years. Quietly and modestly working behind the scenes, Mort has contributed to making Salt Spring Island a better place to work and live.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Biz Stratton, his daughters Peggy Bent (husband Joe Bent), Nancy Van Wormer, and son John Stratton (wife Linda Bonar) , sister Alice Webster, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Salt Spring Island Foundation.

DOROTHY ALICE BLOW

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(Nee MacDougall)

passed away peacefully in Ladysmith, BC on

January 23rd, 2010 at the age of 94. Born in

Lacombe, Alberta on April 17th, 1915. Pre-

deceased by her husband Stan in 1990.  Survived by her loving family, sons; Wayne (Leslie), and Terry (Sonya); eight grandchildren, twelve great-

grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.  A past member of the Salt Spring Island Quilting Club. Mrs. Blow was a loving, caring and warm person. Her memory will be cherished in the hearts of all those lives she touched. Special thanks to Dr. E. Fritsch and staff at The Lodge on 4th for the wonderful care she received. Private family remembrance.

Telford’s of Ladysmith/Nanaimo • (250) 245-5553