A22
FRIDAY, January 6, 2017
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
Obituaries & In Memoriam Warren James Albiston
Grace Margaret Swanton (Holmes)
1935 - 2016
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Grace Margaret Swanton.
Warren James Albiston of Kamloops, BC passed away on December 29, 2016 at the age of 81 years.
Mom died in her sleep on the evening of December 23, 2016. She was 93 years old. Her passing marks the end of an era; she was the last living child of Oliver and Cora Holmes family of six. She was pre-deceased by our father Richard (Dick) Arthur Swanton.
Predeceased by one brother and three sister. Warren is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 53 years Norah, daughters Karen, Cathy (Neil) Farber, Norma (Bryan) Koll, grandchildren Clayton, Tanner, Bailey and Jesse, all of Kamloops and brother Stan (Marilyn) of Kaysville, Utah. Warren was born on December 11, 1935 in Kamloops. He grew up in Walhachin, the youngest of the five children of John and Gladys. He married Norah in 1963 and they raised their family on Dominion Street, next to good neighbours the MacKinders and the Gasparins, while Warren worked at the BC Land Titles office. He retired from there in 1995 after 36 years of service. Dad loved to fish and enjoyed tying flies and keeping detailed journals of his day on the lakes with his good fishing friend Bob New. He also enjoyed hockey and spent many years following, travelling with and watching the Blazers. We would like to thank the wonderful staff of Ponderosa Lodge that cared for Dad. Private family arrangements have been made. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made to the Alzheimers’ Society of BC. Condolences may be sent to the family at DrakeCremation.com. Fisherman’s Prayer Lord grant that I may live to fish Upon my dying day, And when I’ve made my final cast Most humbly do I pray. That when in God’s safe landing net I’m peacefully asleep That in his mercy I’ll be found Good enough to keep.
(250) 377-8225
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She leaves to mourn her passing her six children Margaret Carleton (Ross), Maureen Pytela (Martin), Denise Harper (John), Charles Swanton, Michael Swanton (Celina) and Brian Swanton (Joanne). Her grandchildren Stephanie, Rebecca, Connor, Ari, Susanne, Elisabeth Pytela, Karen, Brenda, Kathleen, Martin, Cheryl, Dexter, Krina, Andrew, Brendan, Kaelan and Rhianna, plus twenty four great and greatgreatgrandchildren. Also mourning her passing are two former daughters-in-law Ineke and Pam Swanton. Mom was born in Benson, Saskatchewan. She attended Normal School in Regina and taught for several years at small schools in south eastern Saskatchewan before moving to Mission, BC. Following his return from service in WWII Mom met and married our father Dick Swanton. Both Dad and Mom were teachers and together with their growing family they lived and taught in many towns in BC including Mission, 100 Mile House, Squamish, Clinton, Vanderhoof, Terrace and finally Lillooet. As they travelled, they met many people and gathered many friends. At the end of their teaching careers they retired to Chase, BC where, as was their practice, they became very involved in the community. For their tireless hours of volunteer work Mom and Dad were named jointly Citizens of the Year. Mom enjoyed her teaching career and the people she met in each community. She was a lifelong learner and taught each of her children the importance to think critically and always do our research. Mom is fondly remembered by many of her former students – some
who still call her Miss Holmes. A teacher ahead of her time she encouraged her students to read, even if it was a comic book, believing in instilling the passion now and encouraging prescribed reading later. Mom believed in working to make life better for others and we have memories of the wellknown and not so well known people who joined our dinner table while performing in our small communities. Bringing classical performances to the people of our small town was just one of mother’s many endeavours. It was only in the past few years that Mom retired from organizing group trips for her friends and asking one of her daughters to provide the transportation. Mom loved attending the Kamloops Symphony and Western Canada Theatre performances and attended both when she could. Following Dad’s death in 1995, Mom stayed in Chase for another nine years before moving to Berwick on the Park in 2006 where she lived out the rest of her life. While there she was active in the many activities offered residents and gathering groups to attend choir or musical performances. As her hearing diminished so did those activities. The family would like to thank the remarkable staff at Berwick on the Park for her wonderful years there and for the kind and loving care each of you showed to Mom during her recent decline in health. We would also like to thank Dr. Victor DeKock and the staff at Summit Medical Clinic. Despite her growing health issues Mom passed in comfort and without pain or fear. We are truly grateful for that. A Celebration of Life for Grace will be held later in the Spring.
Pre-planning is a matter of taking the time to think about – and record – your end-of-life desires. It’s a thoughtful gesture to those you love, and a way to let go of anxieties about the future. Once done, you can relax, knowing your plans are in the hands of reliable friends or family.
Sean Patrick Dunn Sean Patrick Dunn (Dunner to all his friends) was born in Prince George, BC on October 10, 1974 to Tom and Kathie Dunn. Sean passed away suddenly and tragically on December 30, 2016. He is survived by his parents Tom and Kathie and baby sister Lindsay (Ryan) Laffrenere, grandfather and best friend Keith Brown, uncles and aunts Jim and Sally Brown, Denis and Diane Dunn, Mike and Leslie Dunn and cousins Alison, Ryan, Allison, Kevin, Colin and Kelly. Sean also leaves his 15 year companion Elizabeth Bigg, with whom he shared life and travel. Elizabeth’s young niece Faith was very dear to Sean and he loved her immensely. Sean was predeceased by grandfather and grandmothers Mickey and Marge Dunn and Margaret (Bubs) Brown as well as his aunt Leslie Muir. Sean lived in Prince George until 1981 when we moved to Kamloops, BC. He attended Bert Edwards Elementary School then NorKam Secondary School upon his graduation. He met friends in Bert Edwards that carried on all through school as well as up to the time of his passing. Brad, George and Ken were his best buddies and still are to this day. Sean started working in the bush with his grandpa Keith and this led to his career in the forest industry. He worked and studied hard to achieve his Registered Practical Forester certificate which he was very proud of. He worked for Integrated Woods, (which evolved into the IPAC Consulting) for 25 years and he truly loved his job. Sean was project manager for the Southern Interior around the Grand Forks area. He loved being out in the bush and took so much pride in his work. He loved going to Adams Lake from birth to his passing. This was one of his favourite places to launch his boat with family, friends, the dogs and just cruise, naming small beaches around the lake Hawaii and Tahiti where we would all water ski and tube. But his most adored place was Zihuatanejo, Mexico where he traveled with Elizabeth and his parents for many years. The locals just loved him and look forward to seeing him each year. He and Liz took the time and effort at night school to learn Spanish and he could converse with the Mexicans at length. He would always bail us out of botched Spanish conversation. Sean also had passion for animals, especially dogs and their safety and well-being. He was very unselfish with his time and went down to Saints Rescue in the Lower Mainland to help out at a fundraiser. He also donated his Ford pickup to Angel’s Rescue in Merritt. He loved his dogs Spike and Hawk. He generously gave to the local Humane Society in Zihuatanejo and would help walk and play with the dogs. Money raised would go towards spaying and neutering.
Sean was the NFL Philadelphia Eagles biggest fan and would be glued to the TV when they were on. He has so much memorabilia of his team and even attended a home game in Philly with Elizabeth that was a highlight of his life. We just wish we could’ve seen them win a Super Bowl. Everything Shawn touched concerning sports turned to gold. He was an excellent golfer, skier on both snow and water, rugby and rep hockey player to only name a few. He really enjoyed being an associate member of the Kamloops Golf Club and playing with his father, sister Lindsay, brother-in-law Ryan, Jeremy McCrae and Ryan’s uncle Tom Charles. Sean also enjoyed music, everything from Johnny Cash in the fifties, British Invasion in the sixties, classic rock in the seventies, glam and hair in the eighties and grunge in the nineties. He was very fond of the metal scene with some of his favourite bands being Metallica, The Who, Pantera, Anthrax, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, Guns and Roses and especially Megadeth. From birth there was constant ringing in his ears of Eagles and John Fogerty tunes and managed to see both live. He attended many, many concerts of all genres and had future tickets to see a Johnny Cash tribute and Roger Waters in Vancouver. He was also an accomplished musician in the past, playing guitar and being in the high school band. We were so proud when Sean was asked to play lead trumpet at NorKam in his grad year. Sean was an extremely good looking man with impeccable neatness and was a very sharp dresser. He will always be remembered with his Eagles ball cap glued to his head. Sean was very happy, considerate, compassionate person with a great sense of humour and a lot of life left to live. Sadly that opportunity was taken from him senselessly and he will be missed by all who knew him. At Sean’s request, he wished only for an informal gathering of family and friends. The date for that will be April 15, 2017 at the CEP Hall on Lansdowne Street in Kamloops, which is a more suitable time for travel outside of winter. In lieu of flowers or family donations, we ask that contributions be made in Sean’s memory to either Saints Rescue or Angel’s Rescue or possibly both: Saints Donations, 33860 Dlugosh Ave., Mission, BC V2V 6B2 or PayPal on their Internet site. Angels Donations, 2460 Torgerson Rd., Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 or PayPal on their Internet site. Condolences may be emailed to the family at www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
250-554-2577
285 Fortune Drive, Kamloops
250-554-2577
See more at: www.kamloopsfuneralhome.com
LOVE ALWAYS REMEMBERS BY HELEN STEINER RICE
May tender memories soften your grief, May fond recollection bring you relief, And may you find comfort and peace in the thought Of the joy that knowing your loved one brought For time and space can never divide Or keep your loved one from your side When memory paints In colors true The happy hours that Belonged to you.