Contact Us: (250) 426-3132 | 1-800-619-4222
Tribute Wall
Loading...
G
Greg Caws uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
/public-file/317/Ultra/363f4e72-7544-4f38-93e8-44550f4e386e.jpeg
/public-file/318/Ultra/895dc7e4-a09a-4c4a-962b-ea8eddc3115f.jpeg
/public-file/319/Ultra/d2d9a8ed-6eb6-4af8-9657-783475f84b48.jpeg
/public-file/320/Ultra/6273c1b7-542f-483c-b132-872c59c42cde.jpeg
+ 1
G
Greg Caws posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Eulogy
—--------- Welcome —--------
I would like to thank everyone for coming today and offering your memories and thoughts about Susan Caws, someone we dearly loved.
Greg, Marion, Michele, and Nicolle are here to offer our support to Peter, our Dad, and to you, about Susan, the wonderful woman who we all knew and cared for.
It is difficult to begin to express our profound sorrow at Susan’s passing and we offer condolences to all of you as we were all touched by Susan in different ways. The important thing is to keep our fond memories of her alive so that she may continue to touch our daily lives.
We felt Mum would want us to honor her memory with happy thoughts in the context of a life well lived.
A few adjectives to describe Susan: Supportive, understanding, forgiving, helpful, empathetic, organized, decisive and generous are human qualities we will dearly miss.
—--------- Recollections -----------
Susan and her six siblings: Joanna, John, Georgina, Lorna, Judy and Sylvia were raised in Fort Steele by their parents Beryl and George Lum. Despite the challenges of the 1930’s and the Second World War, they were raised in a happy household in an environment which encouraged discipline, manners and achievement. All the family members went forward to lead wonderful lives with their own loving children and grandchildren, many of whom are here today.
Graduating Mount Baker Secondary, Susan chose a life of adventure in the Royal Canadian Air Force, as a Dental Assistant, and her first posting was to France.
Dashing Flying Officer Peter Caws was also posted to the GrosTenquin Air Base. Little did he know that getting into the dental chair, one fateful day, would change the course of both their lives.
Their romance in Europe confirmed they had a lot in common and especially loved to travel. You will see in the photos of their early years that they really had movie-star looks and style. As you all know, Dad is a humble person, and this plus his dashing fighter pilot life and his Porsche racing car may have proved too much for Mum.
Ever the romantic, Dad told Mum that he had been posted to Germany. Surprised, Mum asked, “Well, what about me?” At this point Dad finally figured it out (typical male) and replied, “Well … I guess we better get married.” Thus began 64 years of a loving partnership with a family, much travel, many friends, and diverse activities.
Oldenburg, MooseJaw, Centralia, St. Bruno, Cold Lake, Baden-Baden, Lahr, and Manotick, the home where the family was raised and strong friendships forged, then Mayook and Cranbrook in retirement were the places Mum and Dad enjoyed to live.
Germany, England, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium and Arizona were places they visited and enjoyed extensively. And in the end it was Fort Steele that called Mum home; the Rocky Mountains and its people.
—------ Passions ------------
Throughout her life, Mum loved her garden and it was a primary joy in her life. The walk to the garden, bear-spray firmly attached to her hip, was a daily ritual. There have been many grizzlies, cougar and every manner of large East Kootenay critter wandering around and Susan had no intention of becoming dinner. Many of the expansive garden’s contents ended up in a never ending variety of pickles and unsurpassed crab-apple preserves. Asparagus was one of her big challenges. Deer were her eternal foe, but with her trusty assistant, farmer Pete, they were able till the soil, erect big fences and reap a successful bounty year after year. However, we won’t talk about the badger in the chicken coop because if you were a chicken, it didn’t end very well.
Her culinary skills were legendary, and she always had fresh cookies (Lorna’s recipe , Uncle Jim) and cakes to tempt the hungry. Growing up, cheese or apple cake were always fine for breakfast. Mum excelled at dinners for friends and family and looked forward to having all our relatives sample the wide range of dishes like cabbage rolls, roasts, strawberry meringues, and every new recipe she was never afraid to try out. And, as most of you know, this was done on her trusty ancient wood stove for many years. Of course, you could always count on Mum to find a flaw in her cooking, to which the never ending chorus would assure her it was just fantastic. I’m sure you all agree, you never left hungry !
Had she not had children, we could picture Mum as a professional bridge shark with her sharp mind. Puzzles, the harder the better. And Scrabble; most of us were afraid to play with her and she kept her mind honed and sharp with uncountable crossword’s. She was a voracious reader, fiction and nonfiction, and this completed her encyclopedic mastery of the language.
Mum was always a force for good. In her early years she lobbied hard for professional status for Dental Assistants and she worked most of her life in the field. She set a great example of a high work ethic for her children and grandchildren, and even in her retirement she volunteered as librarian of the Steeples View Reading Center in Wardner.
Susan and Peter have a passion for golf and Mum was always up to date on the current PGA and LPGA tour and the status of all the players. Backed onto the Wildstone Golf Course, with balls landing in the yard, and with the television playing the latest golf, it was a continuous 360 degree golf tournament in the Caws household. She loved playing at the Will-O-Bend course in Jaffrey with all her friends.
Marion and Madeleine spent much time with Mum and will miss her especially keenly. She was a steading influence and someone you could lean on for unequivocal support and understanding.
Her grandchildren will dearly miss her: Jenny, Maddy, Brad, Emmanuelle, Adam, Jason and Elizabeth are all here today.
Mum loved all her siblings: Joanna, John, Georgina, Lorna, Judy and Sylvia, and their spouses John, Gail, Ted, Jim, John and Bob and kept in contact throughout the years . We spent much of our life in close proximity to the Emery’s and Susan was especially close with her oldest sister Joanna, who is here today. Our condolences Aunty Joanna.
And Dad’s siblings were Janet, David and Jennifer, as well as Jay and Joy, and all their children,who were a little more distant in England and the USA, but were very much connected to Mum and Dad. We thank them for the condolences we have received.
Mum loved the Queen and what she represented to the world. Perhaps it wasn’t surprising that Mum was just in time to wait at the pearly gates for Her Majesty and even Dad noticed that all the flags had been lowered to half-mast for Mum.
—-----Final Words----------------------
Above all, as Susan and Peter’s children, we feel proud of the life and opportunity Mum and Dad created for us.
I know that Dad will keenly feel the passing of his true love, his life partner, his wife, and his daily supervisor, and on behalf of us all, I would let him know we are all there to support him.
Dad, despite your level-headed, fighter-pilot, demeanor, there will be a hole that will never be filled but there will be many fond memories and funny thoughts of the great times and accomplishments you and Mum had and we and all your friends and relatives will do our best to fill that gap.
Mum, we will miss you everyday, and we are proud to have known you and to have been loved by you.
C
Catherine O'Neil lit a candle
Monday, October 3, 2022
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_palepink.jpg
My sincerest condolences to Mr. Peter and family! I was very saddened to learn about Mrs. Susan passing. I have never forgotten our times together in Germany (babysitting the kids). Susan was a great mother and mentor. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
A
Angelo Fiorentino posted a condolence
Thursday, September 29, 2022
Peter and family, my condolences for the loss of your wife. It is a difficult time in your lives and my prayers and thoughts are with you. Cherish your fond memories, it’ll comfort you.
Your golf friend, Angelo Fiorentino
J
Joan Breckenridge lit a candle
Monday, September 19, 2022
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_blue.jpg
We are Very Sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. We enjoyed our visits and golf with Peter and Susan when we had our cottage at Rosen Lake. Rest In Peace Susan. George and Joan Breckenridge.
P
P stychyshyn posted a condolence
Sunday, September 18, 2022
Peter and family,
We so enjoyed our visits with you and Susan at St. Josephs. Sue made the best bread
And caesar salad! May God bless you and help you during this sad time.
Terry and Pat Stychyshyn.
M
Michele Caws uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, September 18, 2022
/public-file/311/Ultra/a773873c-5565-42c3-8205-ca3e92e9a80e.jpeg
All are welcome to attend Susan Caws’s funeral mass and/ or graveside service. Neither event is private.
Thank you for your well wishes and condolences.
G
Greg Caws uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, September 17, 2022
/public-file/295/Ultra/7bb60d65-cfe9-4627-96b7-e734e7d67e8e.jpeg
/public-file/296/Ultra/ee2fa05f-7998-406b-8c65-bdd3d2ce4a96.jpeg
K
Kay Amundson lit a candle
Friday, September 16, 2022
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/v2/candles/material_candle_green.jpg
Deepest sympathy to Peter & family.
Rip Susan.
C
Cindy&Steve Head posted a condolence
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Peter& Family
We would like to offer our condolences. We were very saddened to hear of Susan’s passing. She was a wonderful caring lady .
She will be dearly missed
Steve,Cindy & Mikey
c
The family of Susan Muriel Caws uploaded a photo
Thursday, September 15, 2022
/tribute-images/7462/Ultra/Susan-Caws.jpg
Please wait
CRANBROOK
Location
2200 - 2nd Street South
Cranbrook, BC
V1C 1E1
PHONE: (250) 426-3132
TOLL FREE:
1-800-619-4222
FAX: (250)-426-5811
Kimberley
Location
1885 Warren Ave.
Kimberley, BC
V1A 1R9
PHONE: (250) 426-3132
TOLL FREE:
1-800-619-4222
FAX: (250)-426-5811