1928-2009

On Friday, August 7th, Irene Mostad (Paulsen) passed away peacefully, joining her beloved Otto.

During the last year since Otto passed, Irene greatly missed her husband of 58 years. Even though we will all miss them more than words can express, we are joyful that they are “together again”. The large family left behind are closing this chapter, filled with memories and love, laughter, hugs, mischief and lots of good food.

81 years ago Irene was born in Smithers, BC. Otto and Irene married in Prince Rupert in 1950. The family was raised there until 1966 when they moved to Sidney. Salt Spring Island became home in 1968, first residing in Fulford for many years, and later in Ganges.

Irene and Otto are survived by Christine (Dennis Fleming), JoAnn (Rick VanHerwaarden), Elaine (Robert Huser), and son Gordon.

The extended family of 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren will forever miss Bestamor.

Thank you for the prayers and condolences. We are strengthened by your caring.

A celebration of life was held on Tuesday, August 11th.

Aug. 31, 1931 – Aug. 4, 2009

Passed away suddenly at his home on Salt Spring Island on August 4, 2009. Survived by Doreen, his loving companion of 32 years, his five children Pauline (Bruce), Steve, Lisa Maxx, Aaron (Daniela) and Caleb (Emily) of Vancouver; Christine and Sonia, the mothers of his children; six grandchildren Ben, Jekka (Joss), Fiona (and her mother Leah), Kay,

Benjamin and Quinn; and two great-grandchildren Jorian and Jordan.

Please join us for a celebration of Bill’s life on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 12 noon at Central Hall, 901 North End Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C.

Aug. 31, 1931 – Aug. 4, 2009

Passed away suddenly at his home on Salt Spring Island on August 4, 2009. Survived by Doreen, his loving companion of 32 years, his five children Pauline (Bruce), Steve, Lisa Maxx, Aaron (Daniela) and Caleb (Emily) of Vancouver; Christine and Sonia, the mothers of his children; six grandchildren Ben, Jekka (Joss), Fiona (and her mother Leah), Kay, Benjamin and Quinn; and two great-grandchildren Jorian and Jordan.

Bill was pre-deceased by his sister Diana and her husband Buddy; survived by his two sisters Victoria and Elin (Ray) and two brothers Darwin and Paul (Airi) and lifetime friend and cousin Russell (Dorothy) and his many nieces and nephews.

Bill was born in Gimli, Manitoba, on August 31, 1931, and lived on Hecla Island until the family moved to Steveston, B.C. when he was 12.  Bill lived a rich and varied life with occupations of fisherman, carpenter, lawyer, boat-builder and back to fisherman. He was well-loved for his quick wit, silly humour, his compassion and his love of children. Music also played a huge role in his life, coming in from past generations and passing through to those yet to come. Bill will be dearly missed in his roles of partner, father, Avi and uncle. Farthu draumaveginn Vilhjalmur Jakob.

Please join us for a celebration of Bill’s life on August 29, 2009 at 12 noon at Central Hall, 901 North End Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C.

1914-2009

For a woman who epitomized the phrase “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” the “going” finally got too tough…

Molly passed away peacefully in her 95th year on July 30, 2009. She was predeceased by her husband, Patrick, in 2001. Molly will be sadly missed by her son, Doug; daughter Pat Antonik (Mike); grandchildren Waylon (Azy), Aran, Kelsey and Scott and by her great-granddaughter Ella.

She leaves many relatives in both Scotland and Ireland and her many friends from Coquitlam, Penticton and more recently Salt Spring Island.

Our most sincere thanks to Dr. Woodley, Braehaven, Lady Minto and Home Care staff for their generous and loving care…she loved all of you.

Memorial Tea at Braehaven, Thursday, August 6th at 3:00pm.

January 22, 2007-July 29, 2009

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ashlyn Jane Lacey,daughter of Sarah Stark and John Lacey, granddaughter of Peter

and Jean Stark.

We had 2 and 1/2 years of great joy and happiness.

She will be greatly missed.

Donalda Margaret (nee Gillis), died on Tuesday,

July 28, 2009, at Lady Minto Hospital, Salt Spring

Island. Donnie was born on July 11, 1929, at Port

Alberni, B.C., to Warren and Margaret Gillis (nee

Forster). The family lived on Vancouver Island

before settling in 1938 in Surrey, where both

Warren and Margaret had been born. Donnie

attended South Westminster Elementary School

and Queen Elizabeth Secondary School. She was

always an excellent student, shone in school dramatic presentations, and

in her fi nal year was elected student council president, the fi rst girl to hold

the post. She then attended U.B.C. and Provincial Normal School. Her fi rst

teaching position took her to a one-room school in Lund, B.C., where she

met and fell in love with George MacKenzie. They were married in 1951,

and embarked on the adventures of a lifetime together. George’s work in

the forest industry took them to a number of B.C. locations: Port McNeill,

Surrey, Penticton, Merritt, Greenwood, Burns Lake, Kitimat and Prince

George. Donnie raised the family, taught periodically and corresponded

prodigiously. After George’s retirement, they lived briefl y in Greenwood,

but following his early death in 1988 she lived in Surrey and Abbotsford.

In 1998 she moved to Salt Spring Island to share her life with Ray

Hill, whom she had known since Normal School days, and who with his

wife Beth had remained a lifelong friend. Donnie and Ray were keenly

interested in current events, both local and global, and enjoyed a mutual

pleasure in social events on Salt Spring. Both had experienced declining

health in recent months, and Ray’s death on May 28 preceded hers by only

a few weeks.

Donnie is survived by her sons Stewart (Colleen), Neil (Mary Beth), and

Andy (Cathy), and her daughter Leith Ridley, and their families. She is also

survived by her sister, Joan Parolin (Joe), & brother Ken Gillis.

A celebration of Donnie’s life will be held at First Memorial, 14835 Fraser

Highway, Surrey, at 2:00 on August 15, 2009.

If anyone so wishes, contributions in Donnie’s memory to Lady Minto

Hospital Foundation (135 Crofton Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 1T1)

would be accepted with gratitude, in lieu of flowers

We regret to announce that

Jean Jefferies passed away two days before her 88th birthday. A long Salt Spring Island resident, she had moved to Vernon a few short years ago. Predeceased by her husband Henry, she is survived by sons Alan, Robert, Michael and many grandchildren.

At her request there will be no service.

January 7, 1944 – July 18, 2009

John died as he lived — with joy, gratitude, wonder, humor, and amazing spiritual clarity and wisdom, defying the effects of brain cancer diagnosed 15 months ago. John was born in Jackson, Mississippi and raised in New York. He moved to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia Canada in 1988. He was a devoted member of the Baha’i Faith and embodied its teaching to “let your vision be world embracing rather than confined to your own selves.” He was adored by his family, including his twin brother Tommy, sister Linda, in-laws Dan and Farahnaz, nephews Chris and Craig and nieces Zhena and Nava. For 17 years, he was a Walt Disney imagineer, art director and show producer. As a boy, his nickname was “Mr. Toad” because he moved so fast. He later designed “Mr. Toad’s wild ride” at Disneyland. John received his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon and Brandeis. His 40-year career as a designer spanned the worlds of opera, theatre, exhibit design, television, film, and university professorships. He was the lead designer for “Asia” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida and spent 6 years in Japan as Director of Design and Production for Tokyo Disneyland. His Disney colleagues called him a “quintessential gentleman.”

In 1990 on Salt Spring, John, with sister Linda Kavelin Popov and brother-in-law Dr. Dan Popov founded The Virtues Project, a global initiative inspiring people of all cultures and beliefs to live by their highest values. It has spread to more than 96 countries and has been endorsed by the United Nations and the Dalai Lama. John was a director of Green Islands, the board of ArtSpring, and a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Salt Spring. Of all John’s creative projects, the two most meaningful to him were The Virtues Project and his design for the Baha’i World Congress in New York in 1992. John’s family and countless friends will always remember his sweet nature, wit and humor, loyalty and wise mentoring. John and our family are deeply grateful for the compassionate care from our local palliative nurses, Dr. Dan Leavitt, Dr. Bob Crossland, and the staff at Lady Minto.

A celebration of his life will be held Friday, July 24th at 11 am at Harbour House.

All are welcome.

(previously Burrows, nee Price)

1921-2009

Fern Schoch passed away peacefully after a short illness on July 15, 2009, with her husband Peter Schoch by her side. She will be dearly missed by Peter and by her daughter, Valerie Wasylishen and son Jim Burrows (Patti Olson); son in-laws Rod Wasylishen and Doug Campbell (Susan); step-sons Gren and Arn Schoch; and grandchildren Tim Campbell (Irene and Silas) and Robyn Campbell (Darren Wasylucha), Stephen and Eric Wasylishen, as well as nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Alexei and Ana Wasylucha. Fern was born and grew up in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Despite the depression she took piano and clarinet lessons, played the church organ and sang in the church choir. She often talked about playing underage at different bars and community dance halls around the Qu’Appelle Valley.

She worked for the RCMP as a stenographer in Regina prior to marrying James Burrows (1961-1997) and continued this job during his war-time absence, until 1945. At that time they moved to Kingston, Ontario where their three children were born and Jim worked for Alcan. 1958 brought a move to Arvida, P.Q., quite a change and a challenge for the family. Fern soon became active with curling, golf, bridge and the Anglican Church. Her children remember Fern as a loving mother, not to mention fantastic cook. She married Peter Schoch in Bagotville, P.Q. in 1971 and the couple lived in various parts of Canada, finally settling in British Columbia in 1977.

Fern’s love of golf carried into memberships at the Royal Colwood and Cowichan Valley clubs in the 80s and 90s, to the point of being Ladies Captain at Cowichan Valley in the 1990’s. She was still enjoying a good game into her 80’s.

In 2004, they moved to Salt Spring Island where her son Jim and his wife Patti resided and could support them as they grew older. Fern had braved the tragic loss of her second daughter, Donna in 1995, taking solace in the company of friends and family and continuing her long-standing interest in bridge, golf and music; she played the piano until near the end of her life.

Thanks to the staff at Greenwoods for their care and concern during her stay of almost 3 years and to Dr. James White and the other kind medical staff at Lady Minto Gulf Islands Hospital. Donations in her memory can be made to your favorite charity.