Posts by Sandra Thomas
‘Jenny’ passed away surrounded by family
“Jenny,” passed away May 11 on the lawn of her Ontario home, surrounded by family. Adopted as a puppy, Jenny was ‘our favourite hello and hardest goodbye’ On May 11, our dog Jenny passed away peacefully in her backyard on a blanket beside her favourite swimming pool, in the twelfth year of her life, with…
Read MoreObituary: Anthony (Tony) Malley (1959-2023)
Tony loved his family, served his country and was forever hopeful about the future Anthony Raymond Malley, who served his country, was beloved by his family, and brought joy and laughter to those who knew him, died peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 13, 2023. He was 63. Tony was born on Oct. 2, 1959,…
Read MoreO-Bitch-Uary: Carmen Ruiz y Laza — she was born this way
TV host and producer has never learned meaning of the word ‘no.’ With her long, blond hair, classic good looks and statuesque frame, it’s easy to imagine Carmen Ruiz y Laza coming from royalty. But that royal image is quickly shattered, once she lets go with that famous laugh, best described as unrestrained, contagious and…
Read MoreMillie Penner West
Catcher of balls, lover of fish, and truly bonded with Sheldon her brother, we lost our darling Millie on Sunday, December 13th 2020. Our Millie had a rough start to her short life. Born into a hoarding situation in a house in Surrey, BC, Millie and her brother Sheldon were rescued from the attic by…
Read MoreWhy your story means so much
And some insight into why Your Everlasting Words wants to help you create your own living legacy. “I don’t have anything to say.” “My life hasn’t been interesting enough to write about.” “Who’s going to want to read about me?” These are just some of the doubts many have when it comes to considering having…
Read MoreOur online footprints will outlive us all
Sharon Hartung, author of Your Digital Undertaker, says because the world has gone digital, so have our estates. “Everyone needs a will and in the information age your estate now includes your entire digital life and footprint,” Hartung explains on her website. “This is the first book of its kind that draws the reader into…
Read MoreO-Bitch-Uary: a humorous toast or roast
An O-Bitch-Uary can be used to celebrate a loved one with humour or as a roast for a retirement or birthday gift. Consider an O-Bitch-Uary to honour a friend or family member, especially if you’re ever read the obituary of someone you know and thought, seriously? Sure, they had their good qualities, but you have…
Read MoreSeniors advocate Lorna Gibbs has died
Lorna Gibbs was determined to see a seniors centre built in SE Vancouver: that dream came true in 2018 Community and seniors advocate Lorna Gibbs died peacefully in Vancouver on July 13. Gibbs would have turned 90 Aug. 31. News of Lorna’s death caught me off guard because of the fact she was always such…
Read MoreViolet Elizabeth Malley passed away June 9 listening to wartime songs of Vera Lynn
Violet Elizabeth Malley, one of 48,000 intrepid war brides who travelled from Europe to Canada during World War II and helped enrich the fabric of a changing nation, died peacefully on June 9, 2021, in Burnaby, British Columbia, while the songs of Vera Lynn, Britain’s wartime sweetheart, played quietly nearby. She was 100 years old.…
Read MoreJane Mundy: When she’s bad, she’s better?
Jane, being the oldest of five, was always in charge – she bossed everyone around. Jackie, 18-months younger than Jane, got the brunt of it. “She was always putting me in danger to protect herself — whenever we got caught Jane always blamed me,” Jackie whines, even today. After watching The Blob, a 1958 horror…
Read MoreMr. Pinniger – P for Mr. Personality
Reginald Alwyn Pinniger was born April 6, 1930 to Alfred and Blanche in New Westminster, B.C. “As the youngest of six my pet peeve was hand-me-downs because I had four sisters,” says Reg, kidding. Growing up, Reg’s dad was his main influence – and that was a good thing. A member of the United Church,…
Read MoreMargaret Marilyn DeAdder
Margaret Marilyn DeAdder, professional clipper of coupons, baker of cookies, terror behind the wheel, champion of the underdog, ruthless card player, and self-described Queen Bitch, died on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Marilyn, the oldest of four siblings, was born Marilyn Joyce in 1942, to parents Hannah and Edgar Joyce, in New Glasgow, NS. She grew…
Read MoreJamie Lee Hamilton – Larger than Life
With Jamie Lee there was no grey area when it came to social justice — or injustice Jamie Lee Hamilton passed away Dec. 23, 2019 after a battle with cancer. Hamilton dedicated a good part of her life to righting what is wrong and fighting injustice and prejudice. Jamie Lee, a transgender activist of Metis…
Read MoreBenno
Have you ever loved a dog so much it broke your heart? That was the diagnosis my doctor gave me in January, a little more than a week after our dog Benno left us. I made an appointment because I was anxious, couldn’t sleep and felt like my heart was bouncing around in my chest.…
Read MoreHATIRAS, Panagiota (Paula)
It is with great sadness that the family of Paula Hatiras (nee Kafioti) announces her death on January 09, 2010, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Paula passed away peacefully in the Palliative Care Unit of VGH, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 76 years old. Paula will be lovingly…
Read MorePritam Kaur Hayre played important role in farmworkers union
It was in July 13, 1980 when farm worker Pritam Kaur Hayre was fired from her job picking fruits and vegetables at Sabaloy’s Farm in retaliation for her participation in a march and rally in Clearbrook the day before. According to a history of the farm workers movement in the Fraser Valley of the 1970s…
Read More87-year-old ‘Grandragon of False Creek’ goes with the flow
George Draskoy is the quintessential Renaissance man. A retired forestry engineer, today Draskoy is a reiki master, passionate about photography, restores vintage photographs using a computer, has a brown belt in karate, designs websites and is an accomplished dragon boat racer. Draskoy will compete in his 200th dragon boat race later this June — a…
Read MoreVal Legge
Born Oct. 20, 1927 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Valerie Legge nee Rousseau was the youngest of 12 children of Creole descent. “We were Catholic with no TV,” Val liked to say, laughing. Her family was of modest means, but all nine girls were beautiful — and Val was the prettiest. She was very popular and…
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