Obituaries

When I died, I left behind a much-loved husband, Rod Brooks. This man was always a best friend, became a wonderful caregiver, and had the patience to put up with me for 47 years. For that, I will always be thankful.

I also left behind two precious sons: Ryan (Amanda, and kids Jackson, Avery, and Maya), and Lonnie (Delee). These two characters were my biggest accomplishments. There’s no question they kept me on my toes and shared stories about their exploits that a lot of mothers don’t want to hear. But they grew into well-rounded individuals with a deep sense of family. Hugs and laughter were always free.

When my cousin Brenda died, I acquired two goddaughters, Nicole and Paige (Dave, and kids Ashton and Rylee). This was a scary prospect for a tomboy who never played with dolls and had little interest in makeup or fashion—but these young women became a very cherished part of my life.

Also missing me (I hope) are my treasured siblings: Brent (Heather), Lenore (Hew), Bertie (Bruce), and Earl (Jackie). They will all have stories to tell, but don’t believe everything you hear. These siblings, who remain the backbone of our family, gave me an eclectic mix of nieces and nephews who added spice and drama to my world. Life was never boring.

Most of my working life was spent in print media. After high school, I joined the Regina Leader-Post, and later worked in the communications branches of two provincial government departments. I worked at several daily newspapers across Canada before becoming editor at Plains Publishing Inc. in Edmonton. When our sons kicked us out of the nest in 1991, we moved to Victoria, where I handled the desktop publishing for Three-E Training Inc. Over the next 20 years, this team became close—and so, my family grew.

In my spare time, I dabbled in jewellery making and paper crafts. I loved watching TV and always made time to binge-watch a particularly good series. Stephen King was my author of choice, and I would watch any decent horror or sci-fi movie.

I enjoyed travelling with Rod and spent time with friends and family in the U.S. and Mexico. I also managed to make it to the Bahamas, Cuba, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Italy.

I will be throwing my last cocktail party at the farm for family and invited guests. I hope they will raise a toast to family, friends, love, and laughter. These four things are what gave me the wonderful life I had.