Richard Malcolm Strong
May 29, 2009
STRONG, Richard Malcolm passed away in Victoria on May 28, 2009. He was born in Timmins, Ontario April 15, 1940. Survived by his loving wife of 43 years Huguette; daughter Leeanne Baird (Brian); sons William (Kim Strong), Richard (Petra Strong) and Dwayne; grandchildren Benjamin, Daniel, Emma, Jessica, Malcolm; brother Donald and affectionate family companion Sprig. Rick was an avid outdoorsman who excelled at Trap Shooting and was a permanent fixture at Fisherman’s Warf. He was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather that will be dearly missed by all who loved and knew him.
Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Parish, Blanshard and View Streets Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 11:00 am with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sick Kids Foundation, towards Cancer Centre, 14th floor-525 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2L3.
Lois Rae Newsham (nee Brown)
May 29, 2009
Born 1 Aug 1919 Montreal, Quebec
Died 25 May 2009 Victoria, BC
Lois was born in Montreal, Quebec, the fourth of five children born to Edwin and Agnes Brown. After being educated in Montreal, she entered McGill’s MacDonald College where she qualified as an elementary school teacher. For several years she taught children in various schools administered by the Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal.
Lois was blessed with a beautiful singing voice, which was further developed from training under the renowned Madam Donalda. Lois sang as both a choral singer and a soloist for many years.
In 1946, Lois began working as an exchange teacher in Vancouver; shortly after she met her future husband, Lloyd Newsham, who was at the time a graduate student in physics at McGill University. Their relationship continued to grow fonder in the subsequent years and the warmth of their mutual attachment led to their engagement on Christmas Day, 1949. Six months later, on June 28th, 1950, they were married in Westmount, Quebec.
Shortly after their marriage, Lois and Lloyd left on the ill-fated Franconia for London to attend a Radiological Congress meeting. Soon after leaving Quebec, the ship ran into trouble and eventually ran aground on the Ile d’Orleans. Passengers had to be rescued by other vessels and spent nearly two weeks in the Hotel Frontenac.
During their nearly 59 years of marriage, Lois and Lloyd made their home in Halifax, Montreal, Edmonton and for the last 19 years, Victoria. They also enjoyed two year long sabbaticals to Cambridge and Guildford in the United Kingdom. These moves gave Lois the chance to expand her circle of friends. “Bubbles”, as she was known as by her son-in-law Bob, always enjoyed being around others and never hesitated to start up a conversation, regardless of who the person was. Sunday dinners spent out at restaurants would often result in Lois finding out the life story of the server. It was in Lois’ nature to make sure everyone around her was included and in a good mood, which was quite easy when Lois was around.
Lois will be remembered for her contagious smile, her love for her family, her ability to always find the positive in any situation and her incredibly social nature. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Lloyd, her children, Joan (Bob) and Helen (Steve), her grandchildren, Daniel, Kevin, Averil, Katy, Lucy and Tory, as well as countless other family members and friends.
Anyone who knew Lois could speak of her incredible charisma and her heart of gold. She was always quick to pick up on the good in people and would, without fail, be able to give valuable advice to anyone who needed it.
Those who had the pleasure of meeting Lois and being a part of her life will surely agree; their life is better for her being in it.
A service to remember Lois will take place at 2 PM Monday, June 1, at Cordova Bay United Church, 813 Claremont Avenue, Cordova Bay, V8Y 1J9. In Lois’ memory, donations can be made to Doctors Without Borders or to the charity of one’s choice.
Mae Jacques
May 28, 2009
Mae Jacques died May 23, 2009 with family at her side and in her heart. She was elegant, interesting and interested to her dying day at age 92. Born Mae Catherine Davidson in Shoal Lake Manitoba, she remained a lifelong lover of the prairies despite living at various times in Ontario, Florida and, at the time of her death, Victoria, BC. Mae went to Winnipeg as a young woman to pursue a nursing career and at the St. Boniface Sanatorium met a dashing young resident, Robert Jacques, who became her beloved husband of 63 years, until his death in 2004. Over the years, Mae served as her husband’s assistant and regularly accompanied him on his calls to those shut in by immobility or illness. Mae was one of the most effective of her husband’s medical treatments. Until her death, her warm and sunny disposition lifted the spirits of many a “shut-in”. Mae will be missed by her three children, Sharon Driscoll (Richard), Betty Prosser (Frank) and Robert (Pamela Waygood); her three grand-children (Mike, Marsha and Steve) and four great grandchildren (Sydney, Erin, Arman and Ronan). Mae is predeceased by two siblings, Margaret Taylor (Scottie) of Olds Alberta and “Jack” Davidson (Edith) of Plymouth UK. Mae and Bob had a long friendship with the families of the late Leo Jacques and Flo Zunic of Winnipeg and the late Cecile Vallee of Tillsonburg, Ontario. Mae greatly valued all her friends and they reciprocated enthusiastically. She maintained the friends of her youth for life. When writing became difficult, her telephone became her daily link to her friends. Her dear friend, Bernie Bashaw, will miss their nightly chats.
Following the 10:00 am Mass at St. Jean Baptiste Paroisse Francaise, 301 Richmond, Victoria on Sunday, June 7, 2009, parishioners and friends are invited to share in refreshments and remembrances. In addition, Mae’s friends and neighbors are invited to Beckley Farm Lodge at 530 Simcoe, Victoria on Saturday June 6, 2009 at 4:00 pm for refreshments with Mae’s family. Betty Jacques Prosser gave unfailing support to both Bob and Mae in their later life. She enhanced their days and comforted them in their declining health. Special thanks to Michel Bourque and the staff of Beckley Farm Lodge. They gave joyful service to both Bob and Mae in their final years. If you wish to honour Mae, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
Dorothy Mary Fletcher
May 27, 2009
Peacefully in Victoria, BC on May 25, 2009. Born 20 May, 1923, Dorothy (née Elvidge) was the beloved wife of Bob for 58 years; loving mother of Eric (Katharine), Steven (Martine), Janet (Ron Citynski), Terry (Monique), Greg (Michelle), and Laurie (George Schell). She will also be missed by her 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Dorothy grew up in Alberta, and after teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in the Peace River district, served as a VAD during WWII, then graduated from UBC with a degree in botany – and a husband! She never lost her love of gardening and the great outdoors, as an intrepid hiker (hiking Baffin Island while carrying a 50-lb pack at 65), an accomplished sailor (who crewed across the Atlantic, and throughout the British Virgin Islands), a canoeist (she and Bob built a cedar-strip canoe at their Kinburn farm), a cross-country skier, and a snowshoer. Dorothy was imaginative and creative. She enjoyed drawing, painting, working with clay, and she helped Bob design, landscape and build a home in Agassiz, BC; a cottage in Quebec; and a farmhouse in Kinburn, Ontario. Dorothy loved to travel and explored new places and cultures with keen interest and sense of adventure.
While raising a family of six and enjoying her many grandchildren, Dorothy kept active in the community. During their years in the Ottawa area she volunteered at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (her specialty being First Nations of the Canadian West Coast), the University Women’s Club (Ottawa), and the Kanata Library.
Dorothy also enjoyed her own sibling gatherings, notably a trip back home to England, to her father’s Lincolnshire farmhouse.
She and Bob moved to Victoria, BC in 2000, where she particularly enjoyed visits with their grandchildren.
Mom will be deeply missed: her quiet optimistic attitude and grace under pressure will continue to guide all who knew her. The family gives sincere thanks to the caring staff of Mount St. Mary Hospital in Victoria.
A small memorial will be held in Victoria Monday, June 1 at 1 p.m. at McCall’s Family Centre, Johnson & Vancouver St. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation honouring Dorothy’s caregivers to the Mount St Mary Foundation, 861 Fairfield Rd, Victoria BC, V8V 5A9.
Elizabeth Travis
May 27, 2009
Elizabeth Molly (nee Sullivan) died peacefully on Saturday, May 23, 2009 in Victoria. Beloved wife of John; mother to Deirdre (Peter), Gaye and Dermod and grandmother to Travis, Sarah, Christopher and Simon. Elizabeth was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on August 11, 1922. She served as a plotter and radar operator with the Women’s Air Force, Fighter Command (1941-1945) in Bishop’s Court, County Down, where she met John in 1945. They were married July 6, 1948 and emigrated to Canada in 1951. They lived in Northport, Nova Scotia, Franklin Centre, Quebec, Banff, Victoria, Edmonton and Maple Ridge. They retired to Victoria, a city she loved, in 1988. Elizabeth will be remembered by family and friends for her grace, compassion, intelligence and ever-sharp wit.
Service to be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, June 1, 2009 at Christ Church Cathedral. Flowers gratefully declined. If desired a donation may be made in Elizabeth’s name to Mt. St. Mary Hospital, 861 Fairfield Road, Victoria, BC V8V 5A9 or Covenant House, 575 Drake Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 9Z9.
Marcia Marie Sprangers
May 26, 2009
1963-2009
We are shocked to announce the sudden death of our dearest Marcia on May 23. She is survived by her parents, Laurence and Toni Sprangers; her beloved son, Lucas; and her dude, Nicky (Nigel). They are bereft without her, as are her sisters, Joanne, Jackie and Michelle, and her brothers, Mark and Laurence. Marcia was an artist who studied at Kwontlen College. She was a founding member of Leap, a group of women visual artists, collaborating on community art projects and group shows in Vancouver. Her paintings and sculptures were shot through with symbol and suggestion. In her last three years Marcia worked with the elderly at the Cridge Centre for the Family. She nurtured their physical and emotional health with true dedication and lots of laughter. Marcia also loved kids and animals. She entered their world and embraced them and they played with her. Marcia was a brilliant designer of clothes and costumes. She loved wearing them too. She was a consummate performing artist with moments of pure grace and divine comedy. Her costume parties at the Cridge were legendary. Marcia was also passionate about her involvement with the Luminara lantern festival. Marcia loved her son, Lucas, immensely, and he filled her with pride. Marcia found true love in the last four and a half years of her life with her dear fuddy duddy, Nicky. He adored his speckled pixie. Their love is eternal.
A Memorial Service will be held at MCCALL BROS. FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson & Vancouver Streets on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the SPCA or UNICEF.
Farewell, dear Marcia, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Margaret Elsie Hughes
May 26, 2009
February 9, 1934 – May 24, 2009
We are greatly saddened by the passing of our dear sister and auntie on Sunday, May 24 at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Margaret will be missed and lovingly remembered by her sisters, Shirley Purcell and Carol Connolly; nephews, Bruce (Leslie) Kolb, Glenn (Heidi) Kolb and Scott (Elora) Kolb. Margaret also leaves behind several great nephews and nieces.
Flowers gratefully declined. Donations in Margaret’s memory may be made to World Vision, 1 World Drive, Mississauga, ON., L5T 2T4
Private family service.
Ngan Woon Leung
May 26, 2009
Passed away at the Central Care Home on May 24, 2009 with her family by her side. Predeceased by her husband, Pok Lun Leung, she will be lovingly remembered by her children: Peggy (Hansen), Carol, Susan (Bon), Ronnie (Jim), Jennifer (Tom), Wai (Kasey) and William (Karen); she will also be missed by her eleven grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at McCALL BROS. FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson and Vancouver Streets on Friday, May 29, 2009 at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Royal Oak Burial Park.
The family would like to thank the staff of Central Care 2nd floor for their care and support.
James Butterfield
May 25, 2009
August 25, 1922 – May 23, 2009
James Butterfield, Master Mariner, slipped his cable and set sail from Victoria on Swiftsure Day, Saturday May 23, after a brief bout with cancer. He leaves his beloved wife Sybil in the 60th year of their marriage; sons Christopher (Merrie-Ellen), Philip (Tracy), Peter (Sarah), Benjamin (Anne); grandchildren Marco, Sarah, Oonagh, Rosanna, Claire, Harry, Julian, Felix, Robin and Marijn; brothers Philip (Jenifer), Aidan (Aileen), John Sebastian (Mary). He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Robin (1951), and daughter Joy (Stefano) in 2006.
James was born in Reno, Nevada on August 25, 1922, the first son of James Butterfield, of Vancouver, and Virginia (Tener), of Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in Vancouver and in Summerland, BC. He attended the Duncan Grammar School, and in 1936 went to Liverpool (UK) to train for three years as a cadet in the Merchant Navy training ship HMS Conway. On leaving the Conway he joined the Canadian Pacific Steamships – RMS Empress of Russia – and for two years sailed to the Far East from Vancouver. In 1942 he was Deck Officer in three Foreign Going merchant ships, the last of which SS Jasper Park was torpedoed and sunk in the Indian Ocean. He spent the next two years as Navigating Officer (RCN(R)) in HMCS North Bay on convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. In 1945, he attended Trinity College, University of Toronto, where he met and fell in love with Sybil Agnew. They both graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1948, and James then returned to the Navy. After being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the RCN, he married Sybil in Kingston, Ontario in April, 1950. James served in Vancouver, Halifax, St. Jean, Halifax again, and Victoria; his last naval posting was as skipper of the training ketch HMCS Oriole. After retiring from the Navy in 1968, James served briefly in the Canadian Hydrographic Service, and then joined BC Ferries as Chief Officer, Master and then Senior Master. His last command was M/V Queen of the North, from which he retired in 1986. For some years afterwards he acted as Master of M/V Charlotte Princess for the summer, taking her on positioning cruises to the Queen Charlotte Islands; in this way he passed on his profound knowledge of the coast he loved to a younger generation.
James loved the sea and ships, books, poetry, music, dancing and friendship. He will be warmly remembered by his shipmates in the Company of Master Mariners; The Conway Association; The Thermopylae Club; The Naval Officers Association of Vancouver Island and by many friends up and down the West Coast, and around the world. He was contented and true-blue. His enthusiasm, love of life, and of people will forever be an inspiration to those who were fortunate to have known him. The family would like to thank Dr Cox, the staff at Victoria Hospice and Beacon Services for their care. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral, Victoria, on Saturday, June 13 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the Mission to Seafarers, 401 East Waterfront Rd., Vancouver, BC, V6A 4G9
Gladys “Mickey” Painter (nee Wilkins)
May 25, 2009
PAINTER, Gladys “Mickey” (nee Wilkins)
Gladys was born July 27, 1914 on a Saskatchewan homestead, and passed away peacefully in Victoria on May 23, 2009. Predeceased by her husband Lincoln and brother Bob Wilkins, she is survived by her son Bob Painter and nieces Jennifer and Allison Wilkins, and nephews Torrie and Steve Wilkins. In 1940, Gladys and Lincoln escaped the prairie dustbowl and found their “paradise” in Victoria. Gladys was happiest when grubbing about in her garden, and was known to her many friends as a gracious hostess. The help and support provided to Gladys in her final days by the staff at Beacon Hill Villa is very much appreciated by her family. Memorial Reception will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 3:00pm at McCall Bros. Family Centre, Johnson and Vancouver Streets. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
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