Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Woodrow, Jean Clover

Jean, born April 26, 1907, left this life on June 11, 2004 at Vancouver General Hospital. Born in Vancouver, the daughter of Jessie MacLean and John Woodrow, Jean has MacLean relatives in Prince Edward Island and Ottawa. Jean graduated from the University of B.C. in 1926, took graduate studies in Library Science at the University of Washington (Seattle) and further post-graduate studies at L'Universitee de Paris. As Librarian at King Edward High School, Jean also used her musical and teaching skills in directing many of the school choirs and operetta productions. Jean encouraged many young people to continue Music. The last few years of her teaching career were at Eric Hamber Senior Secondary. She was an avid reader to the end of her life. A life-long member of the Presbyterian Church, and lover of good music, Jean was for many years soprano soloist in church choirs. Jean had many friends at Fairview, Central and Kerrisdale Presbyterian Churches, as well as at Crofton Manor, her residence since 1996. Jean will be lovingly remembered by many close friends, notably Thelma Hill, Leone Templeton, Graham Cumpston, and local relatives Edith and Robert McLellan. She will be sorely missed by all of us.

Jean's life will be celebrated at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church on Thursday, June 17th at 2 pm the Reverend Glenn Ingles officiating. Donations in Jean's memory may be made to Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church, 2733 West 41st Avenue Vancouver, BC V6N 3C5.

Saturday, June 12, 2004

Walsh, Verna Irene "Cindy" (Arnott)

Born February 2, 1920, died June 8, 2004 in West Vancouver, BC. Though stricken with Alzheimer's and later, with cancer, she died peacefully, without pain and with a daughter by her side. Born in Darlingford, Manitoba, Cindy lived every day of her life with vigour and determination. She served during WWII in Newfoundland, and recalled the moment when she was on duty to receive news of the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Cindy was a dedicated teacher, devoted to her young pupils, first in Manitoba and later in British Columbia. One of the first teachers to retrain as a librarian for North Vancouver schools, she instilled her students with a love of language, literature, and the arts. After retirement, her energies shifted to volunteer work, Unicef and The Harvest, for example. Cindy learned to swim in her sixties, plunging into the water with the same zeal with which she dove into life. Cindy modelled a work ethic that shaped her three daughters' upbringing, encouraging personal achievement. Her love of the home arts, gardening, sewing, decorating, and cooking were expressed in the dinner parties and other gatherings she frequently hosted in her home. Predeceased by her sisters Ethel Arnott and Beth Harriman, and her grandson Noah Keter, she will be lovingly remembered by her sister Iris Lechner, brother Allan Arnott, former husband, Don Walsh, daughters Kathryn Kennah, Elinor Keter, and Gwynyth Walsh, and her grandchildren Leslie, Erin, and Alexis.

Memorial Service to be held on Monday, June 14, 2004 at 10:00 a.m., at the Boal Chapel, 1505 Lillooet Road, North Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society.

Saturday, April 24, 2004

Radul, Marion Kathleen (Lucas)

Passed away peacefully on a beautiful spring morning this April 21st. Marnie's passing leaves husband George Radul and daughter Judy Radul, son-in-law Michael Turner; sisters, Doreen McMillan (Ken), Phyllis McLeod (Bruce); brothers, David Lucas (Margret Samson) and Gordon Lucas; many nieces and nephews including, Lynne and Larry Koopman and Charlie Zarowski, as well as other family and friends including neighbours, Nita and Marge. Marnie was born in 1926 in Imperial, Saskatchewan. She was a schoolteacher who began her career at 18 in a one room school house in Truax, Saskatchewan. When the family moved to Maple Ridge in 1967 Marnie taught at Maple Ridge Elementary and eventually became the first librarian there. On and off Marnie was also a proprietress and reluctant waitress of various restaurants with her husband George, including in the 1980's, the Maple Ridge Golf Course. Marnie (Mom, Auntie Marnie, Sis) will be remembered as an important influence in many lives. An animated and articulate storyteller, she was unconventional in a whimsical way, ahead of her time with interests in environmentalism, politics, literature and holistic health. A person with boundless curiosity about others, her 'joie de vivre' will be dearly missed by all.

In accordance with Marnie's wishes there will be no funeral service.

Thursday, February 12, 2004

Funk, Grace Emmaline (Tomlinson)

BCTLA Honorary Life Member (1989)

Born on Easter Sunday, April 20, 1924, in Saskatoon, Sask., passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday morning, February 8, 2004, following a short, but valiant fight with cancer. Grace was a life-long learner, earning a B.A. in English, Certificate of Education, and Bachelor and Masters of Library Science. Between the years of 1947 and 1971, she taught at various elementary and secondary schools throughout the Okanagan, and from 1971 - 1989 she was a full-time librarian at Harwood Elementary School in Vernon, B.C. from which she retired. She served as an officer in several teachers and librarians associations. Other activities included book reviewing and editing, sessional teaching at the University of Regina, U.Vic and U.B.C. Among numerous awards and honours, Grace was awarded the Margaret Scott Award of Merit by the Canadian School Library Association in 1986. Grace married Jacob (Jack) Abram Funk, who was also a teacher and WWII army veteran, on July 23, 1945 in Maple Creek, Sask. They lived in Ladysmith, B.C., where their first son, Michael was born in 1946. They next moved to Agassiz, B.C. and soon afterwards purchased a farm just east of Lumby, B.C. in 1949. Two more sons were born there, Jonathan, in 1951, and David, in 1953. After Jack's death in November 2001, Grace eventually sold the farm and moved in May 2003 to Coquitlam to be near her family. Grace was a devoted and very active member of the Anglican Church of Canada, served as a member of the parish council; warden and lay minister at St. James the Less, Lumby, B.C. A lifelong interest in reading resulted in a large collection of books primarily in science fiction/fantasy, mystery, and the humanities. Other interests included playing with her computer, traveling, collecting stamps, turtles, spoons, and other objects. Her best know collection was the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and related materials. Marquette University Archives, Milwaaukee, Wisconsin, recently purchased this collection. Her Grandsons, Shaun (13), Ryan (10), and Kevin (8), were at the top of her agenda in recent years and they will fondly remember going down all the Atlantis watersides every summer with grandma. Predeceased by her husband, Jack, and her parents, George and Edna (Davis) Tomlinson, her brothers-in-law, John and Peter Funk, grace is lovingly remembered by her sisters, Marion Kingston and Shirley Paine, her sons Michael, David, and Jonathan and his wife Colleen Butterley, and their sons, Shaun, Ryan, and Kevin, bother-in-law, Abe Funk, and his wife Hilde, sisters-in-law, Betty Funk and Pearl Dyke, and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and many friends worldwide.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Anglican Church of St. James the Less, P.O. Box 351, Lumby, B.C. V0E 2G0. Services of Remembrance will be held on Sunday, February 13, 2004, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the St. Stephen the Martyr, 9887 Cameron St., Burnaby, B.C. and on Saturday, February 28, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of St. James the Less, 2193 Park St., Lumby, B.C. Henderson's Funeral Home, Langley, B.C. 604-530-6488