Delma Chew (née Sawatzky)
It is with deep sadness that the family of Delma Chew announces her passing, after a short battle with leukemia, on Friday, March 24, at the age of 82 years.
Delma, with her husband Harland, spent many happy times travelling across Canada, United States, Mexico and Cuba.
Delma will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 22 years Harland; her children Rick (José), James (Lise), Gail, Lorie (Vince) and Thomas (Jemma); Harland’s children Monte and partner Judy, Dale, Lorrie and Shannon; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers.
Delma was predeceased by stepson Carter and grandson Adrian.
A wake (celebration of life) will be held at a later date.
Brett Allan Enemark
1948-2017
On World Poetry Day, March 21, peace came to Brett, surrounded by his closest family members.
Second son of Spike and Margaret Enemark, Brett was born and raised in Prince George, BC, and returned to work there on several occasions as a surveyor.
A PhD student of Interdisciplinary Studies at Simon Fraser University, Brett taught film, specializing in early Canadian cinema. He subsequently found his most satisfying work teaching a writing group and editing a newsletter at the Burnaby Mental Wellness Centre, a drop-in centre for persons facing mental health issues.
A Renaissance man, Brett early on wrote poetry and edited Iron, a poetry magazine. He was a talented visual artist, returning to it full-time in his final year at Powell River Brain Injury Society.
Brett made bread, as his grandmother and mother had taught him, up until his final health challenge and joked, when his speech was playing tricks on him, that he could still open a pizza parlour. In his 30s, he delighted in applying his surveying skills to building roads for the Nicaraguan Revolution and collected “copy” for many short stories while building roads in Tumbler Ridge and other points in Northeast BC. Always a “leftie,” Brett did his time as a somewhat reluctant steward in the BCGEU.
When facing health challenges in his last 15 years of life, Brett frequently remarked that he had never expected to live past 30, but that he was so grateful for his life with loving wife Candace (which commenced when he was 42), and his good fortune to become a father (at 48), of two daughters, the lights of his life: Lucy in 1996 and Marta in 1998.
Brett’s first brain tumour came four years later, but he never let the challenge of six recurrent brain operations, and the development of a seizure disorder, slow him down. With his girls, he made a beautiful playhouse on stilts in the backyard, after his first surgery, and continued to build trellises, lay hardwood floors, build decks and remodel the kitchen, and anything else that needed to be built or repaired. Although he always remained modest about his ability to make anything, his contributions to the households in East and North Vancouver, then Powell River, were continuous (e.g., at least one bookcase in every room). His only expressed regret was that he had never finished his novel, but he still hoped to sail at his new home in Powell Riviera, recalling his earliest happy times at the family cabin on Cluculz Lake, sailing and canoeing.
Brett valued his many close friends in the poetry, mental health, law and Brainiac community, who have been a great source of comfort to Candace, Lucy and Marta.
Brett is survived by his mother Margaret, brothers Gordon (Peggy) and Tex (Sandi), sister-in-law Marianne, nieces and nephews Delia and Adrienne (John), Kiersten (Fred), Tasha (Peter) and Ashleigh, Blake (Alexa) and Bret, goddaughters Alexandra and Jacqueline Renate Candace, loving cousins, great nephews and a great niece.
The family wishes to thank Doctor A. Mutat, who performed all of Brett’s brain operations with kindness and skill, Doctor A. Howard, his neuropsychiatrist over approximately 11 years (ever supportive and available), and the empathetic and skilled nurses at the ICU at Lions Gate Hospital, who cared for Brett in his last three weeks as he fought meningitis but succumbed to a stroke.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Powell River Brain Injury Society at 101-7020 Duncan Street, V8A 1V9, or through Paypal on its website braininjurysociety.ca, would be appreciated.
Karin Reinhold read Rilke to Brett in the hospital. Rilke’s aphorism about loss, as translated by Karl Siegler, follows:
One must never despair when something is lost: a person or a joy or a blessing; everything returns with a magnificence even greater. What must fall off, falls away; that which belongs to us, stays with us, for everything proceeds according to its own laws, which surpass our understanding, and with which we merely appear to be in discord. One must live within oneself and think upon all of life, all of its millions of possibilities, distances and futures, against which nothing shall prevail that is either past or lost.
Celebrations of life will be planned for the late summer in Vancouver and Powell River.
Norah Muriel McNair (née Paine)
March 23, 1927 - March 22, 2017
Norah Muriel McNair died peacefully on her mother’s birthday. She was one day shy of 90 and would have been pleased to avoid the fuss of a celebration.
Norah moved to Stillwater from Vancouver in 1949 to teach, married Almer McNair two years later and, with her husband, created a beautiful family home in Douglas Bay. Always a teacher at heart, Norah was a role model and mentor to many, including the friends of her children who stayed connected and close to her. Most Saturday mornings her friends would drop by for a chat, some advice, or to discuss the latest opera news while she baked cookies, pies and bread for the week. Her baking was a treat many people enjoyed, especially her cinnamon buns, brownies and cream puffs.
Norah loved her house and garden and was often seen moving flowers, shrubs and trees on the property to get the right plant in the right place. She would rearrange the living room furniture as well, to catch the best view and to confuse her husband. Norah’s house and garden were filled with her favourite colour: royal blue. She was seldom seen wearing a different colour and she loved shopping for anything in blue.
Norah was a compassionate and “true-blue” friend. She loved her family and her friends’ families. Her grandchildren Alexi and Daniel were very special to her and she was grateful for the time she spent with her great-granddaughter Elizabeth.
Norah’s children Norah-Lee, Rod and Cam, her son-in-law Phil and daughter-in-law Maria would like to thank Doctor Dohm and the staff of Powell River General Hospital for the wonderful care and kindness they gave to their mother.
A celebration of Norah’s life will be held in the summer. In lieu of flowers, donations to BC SPCA would be appreciated.
Lucille Martineau
1935-2017
It is with a heavy heart that we announce that our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mrs. Lucille Martineau (née Morin), born in Cochrane, Ontario, passed away on Monday, March 20, at the age of 82. She leaves in mourning her husband Theodore, her six daughters, five sons, six siblings and numerous relatives and friends.
A kind, patient soul dedicated to family, Lucille loved gardening, flowers and birds and will be missed and remembered for her bright, smiling spirit.
A funeral service and mass will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, April 1, at Church of the Assumption, 7109 Glacier Street. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the church.
Funeral home services: Stubberfield Funeral Home Ltd, 604.485.4112, stubberfieldfh.com.
Aafke Trynje (Alice) Vandermeer-Cramer
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Alice Cramer on March 5 in her own residence. She leaves to mourn her brother Hidde (Edward) (Marion) Vandermeer of Toronto and their children Karl, Keven and Krista; her brother-in-law Marinus (Trudy) Cramer and their children Ryan, Sheri and Lesley of Calgary; and with deep appreciation, her wonderful extended family in Powell River: Mayra, Bill, Blake, Santana, Charla, Julia and Frank, who were always there for her; and her best friend Mrs. Jean Manraey, who will miss her greatly.
Alice was born in Emmen, Netherlands, on September 9, 1937. She worked in Calgary for Purity Mills (Maple Leaf Milling) with her husband. Alice and Gerry later moved to Winnipeg and Toronto. She worked for the Department of Indian Affairs.
Alice retired in 1995 and moved to Powell River. She enjoyed being involved in many senior functions and made many wonderful friends. She will be missed and always remembered for her kindness. She always served as a volunteer at the United Church.
A private service of remembrance and cremation was held by her family. A public celebration of life will be held from 10 am-2 pm on Sunday, April 2, at Cranberry Seniors Centre.