Obituaries

Rolf Roschlaub 1942-2022 Rolf enjoyed life and lived a full one. Born in wartime Austria, moving to Germany, then Switzerland and finally onto Canada. Rolf left school at the age of 17 and quickly enrolled in a 4 year agricultural college apprenticeship program; only...

Eileen Szekely Feb. 5, 1952 - Mar. 21, 2022 On March 21, 2022 the world lost one of the most genuine, kindest and loving women, Eileen Szekely.  Eileen was born on February 5, 1952 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, moving to Fort St John with her family when she was 12. ...

Robert Frederick Gray January 1, 1939 - April 24, 2022 Robert Frederick Gray, 83, of Gabriola Island, passed away on April 24th, 2022, at Nanaimo General Hospital surrounded by his wife, two boys and grandchildren. He was born to parents Dorby and Lily, on January...

Lorne Donald Hall Amor May 1, 1955 - May 3, 2022 We are very sad to announce the passing of Lorne Amor of Gabriola Island on May 3rd, 2022. Lorne and his wife Janice were well known on the island as proprietors of Rocky Hill Farm, raising livestock -- especially...

Ovan Charles (“Charles”) Wilson passed away peacefully at home on Gabriola Island on April 14, 2022, at the age of 73. He fought an extremely courageous battle with cancer, and died surrounded by his wife Karen and daughters Hannah and Kendra. For the past 2 years,...

Noel Poesiat Noel Poesiat passed away suddenly on April 23rd of a heart attack while walking on Gabriola Island. Noel will be remembered for his charisma, wit, and generosity. He was beloved by his family. He was an amazing cook and was known for his shortbread and...

Stuart Thomas Clendening 1945 - 2022 Stuart Thomas Clendening, age 76, of Surrey, BC passed away Wednesday, February 9th 2022 at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver, BC. He is survived by his wife, Heather Clendening; children Cameron (Jacqui) Clendening, Ian...

Joan Roberta Nelson Feb. 18, 1944 - Mar. 22, 2022 It is with heavy hearts we announce the peaceful passing of our loving mother Joan, at Eagle Ridge Hospital at the age of 78 surrounded by loads of family. Joan was the only daughter of Walter and Jean Kerry and...

Florence Joan Sutherland (nee Ferguson) Florence Joan Sutherland (nee Ferguson), beloved wife of Len Sutherland of Gabriola Island, B.C. passed away Saturday, March 12th peacefully and surrounded by her family. The loved ones Flo left behind are her husband, Joseph...

Lindsay Marie Clark Feb 17,  1985 - Mar 18, 2022 “It is the sweet simple things in life which are the real ones afterall” Laura Ingalls Wilder Thank you to our sweet Lindsay for being our greatest teacher. We love you Roo each and every day to the moon and back. Thank...

Dolores "Dee" Lauder Dolores “Dee” Lauder moved over to another dimension on March 17, 2022, at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina, SK, celebrating with family and friends and lovingly assisted by MAID. Dee was a long proponent of dying with dignity, and was...

Marc Doré March 16, 2022 marks the one year anniversary of a tragic accident on Gabriola Island. Marc Doré was pouring the foundation for the retirement home of his friends Chris Straw and Margy Gilmour, when the lives of both men were violently and suddenly taken....

Christopher John Straw Jun. 18, 1958 - Mar. 16, 2021 Dearly loved. Forever missed. One year ago, on a beautiful spring morning, Chris was up early. He was excited to help pour the foundation for our new home. In just a few hours, Chris would die tragically next to our...

Patricia Ann DeMuth, formerly Watts, was born June 1, 1929. The eldest of 3 daughters of Monty and Faith Watts, in Essex, Great Britain.  She moved to Montreal, Canada from Britain after WW2. After working for a while in Montreal, she drove across Canada and fell in...

Elizabeth (Betty) Lowe Neill (née Boag) Dec. 4, 1933 - Feb. 17, 2022 Elizabeth Lowe Neill (née Boag) known as Betty, born in Dundee, Scotland, passed away peacefully in the presence of family in Nanaimo, B.C. at the Regional Hospital at the age of 88 due to breast...

Dr. Barrie Humphrey Born in Vancouver 1940; died, Nanaimo Dec. 23, 2020  Best known locally as a stalwart of the Gabriola Museum and Historical Society (board member 1994-2004 and frequent contributor to the Shale). Barrie was characteristically modest about his...

Michael F. Garrett Michael F. Garrett, 68, passed away on February 4, 2022, leaving his loved ones devastated. He received the shocking diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2020, celebrated remission months later, and then received crushing news this past summer that...

In loving memory of Jean Frost Sept. 19, 1933 - Dec 19 2021 Jean is survived by her Husband Eric, daughter Carolyn and husband Kelvin, grandchildren Alison and husband Eric, James, Adam and Katie. Jean was born in London, was bombed out in WWII and moved to Somerset...

Samuel Bingham McGee Feb. 28, 1936 - Dec. 31, 2021 Sam was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. After doing his British Army Service, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force where he served 20 years. Sam and wife Inge came to Gabriola 40 years ago. Sam spent 10 years...

Peter Eric Bertram Foster Jan. 25, 1945 - Dec. 22, 2021 Peter Eric Bertram Foster, 76, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2021, in Nanaimo, BC. Pete was born on January 25th, 1945 to Alma and George Foster in Prince George, BC. He spent most of his youth in...

Isabel Christina Colbourne With heavy hearts we are sharing the passing of Christina Colbourne, who passed away on December 19, 2021 at the age of 50 years. Christina was truly full of light, grace and courage. Her smile will forever be an inspiration to the those who...

In Loving Memory of Sandra Gurney Nov. 29, 1942 – Sept. 26, 2020 More than a year has passed since Sandra lost her long struggle with COPD. Sandra was born in Moncton, N.B. on Nov. 29, 1942. From Moncton Sandra spent time in Toronto, Prince George and Vancouver before...

Robbie Nichols 1939 - 2021 With great sadness we are announcing the recent passing of Robbie Nichols. She was predeceased by her husband Bert in 2009, and is survived by her family in the UK ( Steve and Deborah). She also leaves behind a number of good friends, both...

Elin (Nan) Rhiannon Dorthy Brown Aug. 18, 1934 - Nov. 29, 2021 Passed away peacefully in Victoria at 87 years of age. Born in North Wales, Elin emigrated to Vancouver in 1955 and after working many years in the newspaper business, she then moved to Gabriola Island,...

Herman Anton Nygaard June 21, 1939 – Nov. 10, 2021 Herman passed away suddenly at his home on Gabriola November 10. He is survived by his wife Phyllis, of 51 years, son Allan (Paula), daughter Tracey (Eric), granddaughter Chelsea (Jesse), great-granddaughter Aubrey,...