Ethel Linnea Earwaker

(Bennison)

Oct 1921 – Feb. 09 2014

Lynne is predeceased by Bill, her loving husband and soul mate of 67 years. Her children were the pride of her life, she will be sadly missed by Jack and Sue Earwaker, Donna and Gregg Edwards, Debby Hunter and close niece Sharon Volkommer. Lynne has 8 wonderful grandchildren- Bill, Jason and Jennifer Earwaker, Torie and Rob Edwards and Jackie, Tracy and Steven Hunter, as well as 9 great-grandchildren.

Lynne was raised in Vancouver attending Tecumseh Elementary and John Oliver High Schools. In 1961, Bill and Lynne started spending summers on Saltspring Island and moved there permanently in 1971 into a house that Bill built at the end of Beddis Road. She and Bill hiked the island and enjoyed all the island had to offer. Wonderful neighbours helped in so many ways to make their lives richer. Many a good time were enjoyed in the summer when friends and family visited.

Lynne joined the Hospital Auxiliary in 1977 and was a willing worker for many years. She was known for the hundreds of sheep she made and sold in the support of the hospital. Lynne was a member of a large coffee group, the United Church women’s group, line dancing, Aquatics and in the 80’s a quilting group. In her senior years, Lynne enjoyed singing with the seniors choir, the ‘Lost Cords’. Many thanks to the great neighbours in King Fisher Cove and other friends of Lynne that have gone before her, Emily Stewart and Jean Johnson among them. Lynne leaves her good friend Margaret Oldroyd, who has been faithful to her to the end. Thanks to all for making Lynne’s life so full of fun and gave her such support and good times.

Finally a special “thank you” to Dr Woodley who took such good care of her and for always being there for her when she needed him. Huge hugs to her care givers and adopted daughters in her final years – Leslie Cheeseman and Barbara Ross- who loved her like their own.

Much of this is pre-written by Lynne; Her final thoughts- “A life well lived with no regrets”

ETHEL ROSE MIDDLEDITCH DIUBALDO

(nee ROLAND)

August 15, 1940 –

February 4, 2014

Our remarkable sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and dear friend passed away on Februrary 4, at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg MB. with family by her side.  She was predeceased by her  parents Harry (Jack) Roland and Laura Roland, brother Herk Roland and most recently by her husband Dominic Diubaldo, February 3, 2014.  

Ethel will be sadly missed by her six children: Tony Roland of Richer MB.; Linda McDonald (Doug) of Lillooet BC, Timothy Middleditch (Chun) of  Columbus Ohio, Lanui Middleditch, Chester Middleditch and Lee-Ann  Middleditch of Saltspring Island BC; seven grandchildren, Amy (Lane) Falk, Sean (Bobbi)Day, Zacary and Emilie Verboom. Danny (Sunyount) Miller, Perry Miller and  Carrie  Middleditch; six great grandchildren, Chole, Alya, Chase, Gavin, Han, Ahra, as well as her six siblings,  Leona Cook, John Roland, David Roland, Josie Morrison,  Marina Dick, and Kate Roland as well as her close knit family and  friends.  

She was an Island girl, born and raised on Saltspring Island and ever proud of her Hawaiian Heritage.  Spending a majority  of her life on the West Coast, she met Dom on the island and soon after moved East to Manitoba 20 years ago where she enjoyed working in her “Bloomin’ Lovley” greenhouse, volunteering at Steinbach  Central, being a member of the Richer, Young at Hearts Club and  attending every garage sale in a 50 mile radius.  She was known for her sense of humour, quick wit, an unique style.  She also enjoyed  spending time making jewelry and doing an array of crafts and adding  to her treasured stamp collection.

She was an amazing woman, and taught her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the meaning of life and love and respect and  family.  The most important things in her life were family and  friends for whom she would do anything.  She was truly young at heart  and her gorgeous smile and incredible sense of humour and kindness  will always be remembered by all who knew her, and never be forgotten.

Our family would like to thank each and every person who helped care for Ethel in her last days. The emergency crews, the amazing staff and Doctors of the surgical intensive care unit at Health Sciences  Centre.

A  Funeral service was held for Ethel and Dom by Dom’s family on February 11 in Winnipeg.  Our family will have a Celebration of Life  here on Saltspring.  The Date and Venue will be announced soon.

Last night in my dreams

I saw your face again

We were there in the sun

On a white sandy beach of Hawaii

James Randolf Hawkins

April 19, 1957 to February 2, 2014

It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Jim, sourrounded by his loving family. Jim is survived by his wife Jan, daughter Emma and son Tim, brother Tim (Tiffany) and sister Jill. Nephews Arron, Jesse, Michael, Scott, Nicholas and Gabriel and nieces Natalia and Kirsty.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Salt Spring Golf Club on February 19, 2014 at 1:00pm.

Walter Huser, born in Wettingen, Switzerland on June 5, 1928, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2014, surrounded by his loving family, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Walter is survived by Agnes, his wife of 57 years, his children and grandchildren Peter and Monika, Angela (Garrett), Sonya; Irene and Mark, Lauren (Johnny), Alyx; and Robert and Elaine, Kara and Christian; his twin sisters Maria and Martha and many nieces and nephews in Switzerland.

Walter immigrated to Canada in the spring of 1953 with his good friend, Beni, landing in Montreal. The two friends worked their way across Canada towards Vancouver. After being down to his last few dollars, Walter finally found a job in construction. His first contract took him to Tahsis BC, where he worked on the mill. As a devoted Catholic he volunteered his time to help build the local church. Walter quickly fell in love with the rugged west coast and moved to Ucluelet, where he raised his family, started his own construction business and made many lifelong friends.

Walter was an avid outdoors man and an excellent mountaineer. He conquered the famous Matterhorn four times, but also explored the west coast mountains with his good friend, Fred and, later on, with his own children. In 1972, Walter took his family back to Switzerland for five memorable years. The lure of the west coast called them back, one by one, and they eventually settled on Salt Spring Island in 1977. Walter then started his new construction business. Joined by his sons, his company built many fine homes on the island.

His retirement years were spent traveling all over North America with Agnes in their motor home, living a simple life in their cottage, enjoying and spending time with his six wonderful grandchildren, going for walks with his dogs, stacking the perfect woodpile, tending to his flourishing garden which he took tremendous pride in, and providing the neighborhood with his famous salad greens.

He reminisced about the many highlights of his life up until the end: his trips to the Arctic Circle with his brother Richard, the frequent visits and calls from his nephew Markus (and Marianne), fishing trips with his boys, weekends away at Mark and Irene’s family cabin at Cameron Lake and, most of all, the incredible love and support from his family and his long, happy marriage to Agnes.

Special thanks to Dr. Ron Reznick, the entire nursing staff at Lady Minto Hospital, the Home Care Nursing staff, Billy, Alan, Rita and to the many friends who came to visit offering their love and support. There will be no memorial at Walter’s request. Those who knew him will remember Walter as a kind and gentle soul with big hands and an even bigger heart.

It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Robin, a most cherished son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and best  friend.  When someone with such an amazing spirit walks the earth it feels almost impossible to say good-bye. 

He was loving, generous, crazy, fun, and he had an amazing sparkle that shone so brightly.  One of his favorite sayings was, “Leave them wanting more”, and he definitely has done that. Robin never left  things unsaid and for this we are eternally grateful.  Our love for Robin will never fade. 

There will be a celebration of Robin’s life at Bader’s Beach on February 15th, 2014 at 4:30 pm. Bring along a chair and a piece of wood to put on the fire and  we will share stories of Robin and his hilarious antics as the sun goes down.

With great sadness we announce the sudden unexpected passing of Lynne in her sleep. Predeceased by her father Arnold, mother Marilyn and brother Timothy. Left to mourn, stepmother Sylvia, two sisters, stepbrother Edward and family, stepsister Susan and family. Three nephews, Patrick, Logan, Errick, her very good friends Heidi and Mickey, Cindy and Mike.  Lynne was so full of life, mischief and kindness to others. She was much loved and will be sorely missed.

A celebration of life will be held later in the spring.

Ethel Margaret Futers Fulton

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of E. Margaret Fulton on January 22, 2014 at the age of 91, on her beloved Salt Spring Island. A full life with exceptional accomplishments, Margaret Fulton exuded a rare zest for living and learning that had a profound impact on everyone who knew her. Dr. Fulton to her peers, Margaret to her friends, and Aunt Peg to her family will be missed, but remembered by all.

Margaret was born in Birtle, Manitoba on September 8th, 1922, as the seventh and youngest child of Ernest and Ethel Fulton. While raised on the farm and learning all of the same work habits exemplified by her older siblings, her passion was education. Margaret completed her Grade 12 at the Birtle Consolidated School in 1941, and graduated from Winnipeg Normal School in July, 1942. That Fall, she began a teaching career at Penrith, a one room rural school, and never looked back. The next two years she taught Grades 7 and 8 at Russell School and in 1945 she moved to Dauphin Collegiate to teach Grades 9 and 10.

During the war years her summers were spent back on the farm helping with all the farm work. By 1947 with the war over, her brothers had returned to take up farming and her parents retired to Birtle. Margaret was free to take a teaching position at the Fort William Vocational School in Ontario. Committed to lifelong learning, she completed a B.A. at the University of Manitoba, an M.A. at the University of British Columbia, and a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto.

She subsequently spent seven years teaching at Waterloo Lutheran University before accepting a position as Dean of Women at UBC in 1974. In 1978 Margaret became the President of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax until 1986. From 1986 to 1996, she was an Adjunct Professor at UBC. She holds 15 honorary degrees, an Officer in the Order of Canada, and holds the Governor General’s “Commemoration of Persons” Award.

Margaret was a well-known Canadian educator, administrator, social activist, feminist and volunteer. She has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her efforts in women’s education and more recently for seniors’ health serving as Chair of the Seniors’ Advisory Committee to the Ministry of Health in BC. She was a Vice-Chair of the Women’s World Summit Foundation, Geneva, an NGO committed to further education, health and equality for rural women.

Much in demand as a consultant on government and university committees and as a keynote speaker and conference panelist, Margaret challenged myths and misperceptions surrounding the education and role of women. She has been the subject of a full length documentary, A Round Peg, and of a full length book biography by Dr. James Doyle called, Transformations: The Life of Margaret Fulton, Canadian Feminist, Educator and Social Activist (ECW Press, 2006). As chronicled in Doyle’s biography she was empowered by her ability for public speaking:

“For the first time I had the power of speech – I saw what could be done with words, for I had a vision of a new world as I talked.”

Margaret retired to Salt Spring Island in 1996, but continued to be actively involved in a variety of organizations through the remaining years of her life.

Throughout her life, family was always foremost in Margaret’s life. She was a strong force in the lives of her 17 nephews and 7 nieces, and the growing legion of great-nieces, nephews and then great-great nieces and nephews. She showed genuine interest and great love for each new addition to the Fulton clan, and travelled far and wide keeping connections strong between all the generations. She was truly one of the vital threads connecting all of us.

Her wonderful sense of humor and distinctive laugh drew one and all to her side, and her tremendous spirit of adventure took us all along for the ride. Her great many friends, both old and new, are a wonderful reflection of the person Margaret was. Her Salt Spring friendships have been a great support in recent years. Margaret’s 90th birthday celebration on Salt Spring in 2012 brought family and friends, old and new, together to form a wonderful memory for all of us.

Margaret is survived by her sister Eva Robinson, her large extended family, numerous friends, and an extensive educational legacy. She will be sorely missed. A special thanks to all the doctors, medical attendees and care givers that helped Margaret in the past few years.

A Celebration of Life for Margaret will be held at the Salt Spring United Church (111 Hereford Ave, Ganges) at 2:30PM on Saturday February 8th. Friends and family are invited to attend a reception following the Service at Harbour House Hotel. Interment will follow in May in Birtle, Manitoba. More details on this service will be posted to the website: http://www.forevermissed.com/e-margaret-fulton/

Margaret Fulton was a great supporter of many organizations and causes over her lifetime and would be pleased that donations are being made in her name to any of these ventures. We also know that Margaret saw her time as President of Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax as the opportunity to put into action many of her ideas and beliefs and as such contributions to the Mount would certainly meet her wishes: https://forms.msvu.ca/donate/