Margaret Prietz

Margaret Prietz (nee Kuehnemann died on December 29th 2013 in her 98th year, proud and loving mother of Sabine Swierenga (Harold) of Salt Spring Island and Tina Prietz (Doug Jemmett) of Huntsville,ON. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren Stephan Swierenga (Natalie McMaster) of Ottawa, Heidi Swierenga (Tom Baker) of Vancouver, Charlie and Peter Jemmett of Huntsville and her great-grandchildren Cathy, Hayden, Jacob, and Kieran Swierenga of Ottawa, and Sidney and Sebastian Swierenga of Vancouver, and her sister Eva Borgstroem of Lund, Sweden. She was predeceased by her son Rainer in 1959 and her husband Dr. Hans Prietz in 1997.

Margaret trained as a dietician in Hamburg, married her childhood sweetheart in 1939, and survived the horrific war and post-war years with two toddlers. The family immigrated to Canada in 1952 after the birth of her third child. At 55 Margaret went back to school, earning a Fine Arts Diploma from Sheridan College in Oakville ON.

Margaret and Hanno moved to Salt Spring Island in 1992, where she built a pottery studio and spent many happy hours with her craft and her students. In 2012 island children were enchanted with her ceramic crèche Christmas display in the new library. She had a wonderful knack for connecting with people, creating long lasting friendships. Margaret kept diaries all her life from which she wrote a wonderful memoir that has become a lasting legacy for her family. She will always be remembered for her encouraging positive attitude to life and her strength in getting through the dark times. We will miss her very much.

The family would like to thank the dedicated staff of the Lady Minto Extended Care Unit and in particular we are grateful for the loving and compassionate care provided by Kathy Geldart, who made such a difference to Margaret’s last years.

Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to her favourite charity, World Vision.

Born February 13th 1915 in Yorkshire England, died peacefully at Lady Minto Hospital December 24th 2013 on Salt Spring Island BC.

Jack was born and lived in Yorkshire England where he worked as a Sales Manager for a large wool spinning company until his retirement in 1980, when he and his wife Kay (who died in 1999) moved to Canada to join his daughter Judy and her family, then living in Vancouver.

Jack and Kay decided to make Salt Spring their new home and loved it from day one. They loved the Island lifestyle and quickly made many new friends. Jack was then able to pursue his love of painting and drawing full time. He was a long time member of the Painters Guild, well known for his watercolour painting and beautiful pen and ink drawings, he was also known for teaching others the wonders and techniques of watercolour.

Jack will be sadly missed by his daughter Judy, son-in-law Howard, grandsons Jared (Tamara), Morgan and his new great grandson Arlo, his many friends and extended family here and around the world.

Many thanks for the wonderful care he received from Dr. Beaver and Dr. Butcher, the Nurses and staff at Lady Minto Hospital, the Community Care Team and Braehaven. There will be a celebration of his life to be announced later.

Karma Phinjo Sherpa, known locally as Lama Phuntsok, was born February 24, 1962 and passed away suddenly December 19, 2013. He is survived by his father and an elder and younger brother. He was pre-deceased by his mother who passed away last year.

Born in Nepal he entered Kalu Rinpoche’s monastery (Samdrup Tharjeyling) in Sonada, India at a young age to begin his training as a Buddhist monk and teacher. After completing the traditional three year three month retreat at Sonada he held different jobs at the monastery helping with it’s administration and running. In 2007 he came to Salt Spring Island to become the Resident Lama for Kunzang Dechen Osel Ling, a Buddhist meditation retreat centre on Mount Tuam. In the short time he was here he worked tirelessly to improve all aspects of KDOL. He will be deeply missed by all who loved him and who came in contact with him.

A traditional Buddhist Funeral Service and cremation was conducted by a group of lamas at the Parish Hall (Celebration Hall) of St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church in Vancouver on Monday, December 30.

Rose Alma Lauzon

It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my mother Rose Alma Lauzon who died peacefully Dec. 12 2013 on Salt Spring Island.

She will be greatly missed by her daughter Deborah Lauzon, granddaughter Nova Kodaly, grandson Joshua Beckett  and his partner Nadine Shelly and their  children, Kephra, Atum Quinn, and Jove, grandson Zoltan Kodaly and his partner Trina Aspinall and their children Daylin and Jace, grandsons Andrew and Brandon Lauzon (Cornwall Ont.) and friends Gary, Louise, Mallory, Colleen, and many more family and friends. She is predeceased by her husband Larry Lauzon and her son Raymond Lauzon.

Alma was a senior’s gold medal bridge player, who loved cooking, reading, and playing with puppies and children.

There will be no service by request. Donations if so inclined can be made in her honor to CNIB.

We wish to thank everyone at Lady Minto Hospital and Extended Care for their gentle loving care when it was needed the most. Your kindness has become part of our memories. Special thanks to the hospital cleaners for the valuable work they do in keeping our hospital and extended care a pleasant place to live, work, and visit. Very special thanks to Pauline and the kitchen staff. How’s the soup Alma? “Always delicious!”

GEOFFREY MICHAEL SWIFT

July 20, 1935 – December 12, 2013

Geoff was born in Perth, Western Australia. After serving time in the Australian Navy he emigrated to Canada at the age of 19. He went to Revelstoke where he was a surveyor for the building of the TransCanada Highway through the Rockies. He married Joan Ludwig and they had two sons, Darren and Scott. 

Geoff had a varied career as a restauranteur, a realtor and many years as a jewellery designer in Gastown. He moved to Salt Spring Island in 1983 and became the Manager of Windsor Plywood. He subsequently set up his own construction company, Geoff Swift Construction Ltd., and has to his credit the building of Moby’s Marine Pub, Creekside on McPhillips and many custom homes on the island. Geoff was a very creative person and had an incredible sense of design.

Geoff leaves behind his first wife Joan, his sons Darren of Vancouver, Scott of Revelstoke, grandson Marcus, his sister Barbara of Australia, his niece Julie and nephew David. Also missing him is his friend and partner of 21 years Dianne as well as her daughter Lianne and grandchildren Tara and Aidan. Geoff had many friends who visited him often in Braehaven—a thank you goes out to all of them. A very special thank you to Damien Brazier who was so caring of Geoff and helped him in so many ways, not only before his illness but in the past few months while his illness diminished his quality of life. Thank you also to Dr. Kalf and to Anastasia of Lady Minto.

A memorial service will take place in the new year. An announcement of the date will be published.

Colin Alfred Bisset

Nov. 9, 1928 – Dec. 11, 2013

Colin was born November 9, 1928 in West Vancouver, passed away peacefully December 11 at Greenwoods after a lengthy illness.

Always loved and sadly missed by his partner Audrie, extended family Kathryn, Kaitlan and friends.

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to Dr. Reznick, the nursing staff, all Greenwood workers for their compassion and care of Colin.

No service by request. In lieu of flowers any donation to Greenwoods or Lady Minto Hospital will be deeply appreciated.

Rest in peace Colin – till we meet again.

Marie-Josée Graci (née Labelle)

August 12, 1960 to December 6, 2013

Marie-Josée passed away gracefully and serenely on December 6th, 2013, at the age of 53, in the arms of her beloved husband, Sam, and her elder daughter, Julie Fortin. Marie-Josée is survived by her husband Sam, her beloved children — son Mathieu (23), her two daughters Julie(27) and Catherine (25) — her mother Madeleine Brodeur, her sister Nathalie (Claude), her brother Alain (Gisèle), as well as her nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father Victor Labelle in 2006 in Montréal.

Marie-Josée was born in Montréal, Québec on August 12, 1960. She received her Master’s Degree in Nutrition at the Université de Montréal in 1983 and for many years worked as a nutritionist in the Laurentians in Québec. In 2000 she successfully opened and operated a natural health food store, Vision Santé, in St-Jovite, Québec. During the years 2003 – 2008 Marie-Josée hosted a very successful syndicated television program called “Santé vous mieux” in which she conducted a series of interviews with varied experts in the field of health and nutrition.

In the summer of 2008, Marie-Josée moved to Salt Spring Island where she and Sam married and where she continued her work with Sam in the field of research in health and nutrition. She travelled Canada from coast to coast, with Sam, encouraging and motivating people towards wholistic living. One of Marie-Josée’s passions was dialoguing with and educating mothers on how to best feed their children and most importantly how to feed their souls.

Marie-Josée raised Julie, Catherine and Mathieu with natural love, beauty and nutrition and spent a lot of time sharing her spiritual depth and wisdom with them as she did with everyone she met.

A joyous celebration of Marie-Josée’s beautiful life will be held in the spring of 2014. An announcement and invitation will be published at that time.

Cliff Mills

March 8, 1928 – December 3, 2013

Cliff Mills passed away peacefully after a comfortable day with family at the Jubilee Lodge in Prince George, BC. He is survived by his wife Angie and his daughter Kasandra, her partner Ramesh, and granddaughters Ramona and Naomi. A service was held in Prince George in Cliff’s honour. To view Cliff’s life story and send condolences, please visit www.assmansfuneralchapel.com.?In lieu of flowers, donations to the B.C. Parkinsons Society or BCSPCA would be appreciated.