I met Cathy the first day of grade two and we became the best of friends. Cathy always described herself as a shy, quiet introvert but anyone who knew her was treated to her cute, spunky and fun personality. We continued in our friendship in college becoming roommates and enjoying an awful lot of great parties and antics!

She absolutely loved to laugh and even when distance separated us in later years, we would often spend hours on the phone until we were both in tears laughing so hard, then we would text each other after to continue the joke and kill ourselves laughing all over again! She was even like this the last few years of her life, even though she was struggling so much with her health. She always wanted to look at the funny side of things and she always loved to laugh! That is what I will remember and always miss about her most!

We had some wonderful adventures together and she always said that of everything in her life she took the most pride and joy in her children! She was absolutely thrilled when grandchildren came along! Even though she mourned that she wouldn't have more years with them, she made sure she gave them the most love possible in the time she did have!

Sharon Winder, who came to Grandview School in grade 4, joined us and the three of us remained best friends through thick and thin, and always made sure we got together for some fabulous reunion trips all through the years. Sharon and I so wish Cathy had had more time and an easier time in her life. We will forever miss her and reminisce about our time with her. We are so grateful we got to know her light and love her sweet, Soul 💗

Cathy,

I miss you more than words can really say. It’s hard to believe a whole year has passed without your thoughtful check-ins, your quick wit, and our weekend visits over Tim’s breakfast. Those little moments meant so much, and I carry them with me every day.

You had the most beautiful way of loving people- so deeply, so intentionally. You were always so present in the lives of those you cared about. I still find myself expecting your messages on special days, because you never missed a single milestone. And the gifts you gave were always so thoughtful.

We had our ups and downs over the years- but hey-  what kind of mother- and daughter-in-law relationship would it be without a little friction? In all seriousness, I am so grateful for the relationship we had. I feel incredibly lucky to have had you as my mother-in-law.

Sunny talks about you often and says she misses her Gramma Cathy. She told me you’re a snowflake now, which I feel is so sweet. I wish you could see Jones at this age - he’s full of personality and so funny. You would get a total kick out of him. He sleeps with the teddy you gave him every night, and it brings me comfort knowing he has that piece of you close.

Thank you for raising such an incredible man. You taught him how to talk about his feelings, and that is something I will always be grateful for - especially as he passes that gift on to me and to our kids.

Your love is still so present in our lives. We will keep sharing your stories, your laughter, and your spirit with Sunny and Jones so they always know how special their Gramma was.

Miss you always,

Sarah

My dearest condolences ❤️

Layce I’m horned to have known your mom and for her to have seen our babies grow up in toddler years. Every time she came to Vallarta I was lucky enough to spend time with her. We have beautiful memories, one in particular for me, at Evelina’s birthday. She was such a sweet loving grandma in her element that day. 

Love you dearly and this is so beautifully written about your momma. 

Mom,

You were such a loving, caring, and understanding mother. Not only to your children, but to those who truly knew you. I will forever miss the phone calls after a tough day on my drive home from work, and you coming over on the weekends to visit Sarah and I, and the kids. Your unconditional love and compassion for us always left our hearts full. I often wished that I could do more for you in return, as all I ever wanted was to be able to take your  pain away. It took me a long time to accept that I couldn’t shoulder or remove that, but seeing how proud you were of your kids and grandchildren, and the time you spent with your loved ones, I know in my heart, was your best medicine.

Your sense of humour was a huge part of what I’ll always remember. Very similar to mine, which is part of why I think we understood each other so well. I like to think I got my sense of humour from you, but I guess we have to give Dad some credit for that as well ;) I’ll always remember the sound of your laughter and the comfort that it brought me. The pain of losing you is deep, but the bond we share remains unbreakable.

Rees wrote a beautiful message on here that Layce and I so wish you were able to read. It made my heart full reading his thoughts of you and his experience having you as a step mom. I think mainly because it speaks to your true character. You weren’t only a great mother, but a very loving and truly genuine person.

You always gave such good advice when I needed it most. Even when you were so sick, you still always worried about me. My most vivid memory as I’m reflecting and writing this here today, was when I was visiting you in your room at the Grey Nun’s on your last full day. We were having such a great chat while you were putting some makeup on because you didn’t want to look “Scary” when friends and family came to visit. We had a great laugh about that, among other things. But what I’ll remember most is when at one point I was carrying on about all of the things that I “needed” to get done on that Sunday, and you said to me “Son, can you promise me something?  Will you try and slow down for your mom? I worry that you take on too much”.  In that moment I realized how unimportant the things I thought I needed to get done really were. Your wisdom was underrated, and that’s one of your many messages to me that I will never forget. If I could go back I would have spent the whole night there with you and wouldn’t have left your side, but that’s life. We don’t know when our last moment with the ones that mean the most to us might be. The lessons that you taught me are invaluable, and I am forever grateful and proud that you were my mom. 

With endless Love,

Your Son 

I first met Cathy, long dark hair and glasses, when I was five and moved to live with her and Dad when I was ten. We lived under the same roof for eight years. The second house (in Maple Ridge) we lived in until I left home was my favourite and doesn’t live in my memory without her in it. Looking back, I really liked her a lot, enjoyed my time with her and loved her as my step-mom.

I remember nights at Theatre Under the Stars with her and Dad under blankets in chairs on the lawn of Stanley Park, watching her arrange the advertisements for the local newspaper she worked for on the kitchen table (the same paper I had my first paper route with), whipped cream-cheese potatoes with a sprinkling of paprika, playing cribbage, Balderdash and Scrabble. She would help me dress up as Ed Grimly for Halloween. Twice! Those are just some of the things that come to mind immediately. I can’t remember everything so mostly what’s left is a good feeling and a chuckle when I think about the impression she left on me.

There are lots of good things to say about her as a person. I’ll stick to the two best which are my siblings Layce and Myles. Her wry wit, sensitivity, resourcefulness and thoughtfulness live on in them and their kids. So, in that way, she’s not really gone from our lives, is she? Peace to my second Mom.