Tribute

1928-2025

Peacefully passed in her 96^th  year after a stroke.  Sons  Bruce and Michael, and daughter-in-law Beverly are surviving family.   Annie was pre-deceased by her mother and father (Margaret and Alfred), her two brothers  George and Alf, and husband Gordon.    She was also the last from her generation of the blended Shuker/Wilkinson families.

It’s a testament to her determination and intellect that even though she grew up in poverty and had little opportunity for higher education,  learning office skills like shorthand and typing enabled her to move among employment opportunities as they appeared, several involving medical environments–including the office of the “new” ( 1957 ) Campbell River hospital.

Annie had a full life with many different careers and hobbies.  Her last major career was managing the office of the Campbell River TV Association, one of very few community-organized independent cable services in an era of cable conglomerate growth,   She often said  that she knew something about almost everyone in Campbell River because of that job.  Her ability to function at that while also being an engaged homemaker illustrated her multi-tasking skills.  She dabbled in ceramic crafts in a co-operative with a storefront across from the BeeHive Café.  She was frequently the only one in the boat to land a trout from the waters of  Upper Campbell Lake while the family developed and enjoyed a recreational property.    Cooking a holiday meal for at least 10 in a rustic cabin at the lake stands out as a memory of her ingenuity and energy.   Once retired, she took up fly fishing and became part of a different network of outdoors buddies.   She was an avid supporter of medical charities and community groups focussing awareness on social injustices.   On that front, she played  a pivotal role in the Cowichan Citizen’s Coalition which organized guest speakers and films exposing corporate excesses and over-reach as well as political issues.

Both Michael and Bruce have fond memories of being well-fed and encouraged in a household often stressed by financial difficulties, but due to Annie’s understanding of finances at a time when  “Father Knows Best”  was the standard scenario, the family weathered several lean periods with few scars.   Being “do-it-yourselfers” helped, but it meant living in a one-room house and being assigned to unsavory activities like painting preservative on the siding for their second CR house and picking wild blackberries in the hot sun in order to have intensely flavourful jams and satisfying desserts.  Family holidays were often tent camping trips to Little Qualicum or Miracle Beach, with the attendant challenges of preparing food and remembering other details away from the organized conveniences of home.

Mom and Dad were married for 73 years, so during their later decades in their “forever home” a number of anniversary celebrations occurred in the Cowichan Valley– attended by family, neighbours, friends and work acquaintances showing respect for their love and dedication to each other.   Attendees came from locales as distant as California and northern BC.

 Our thanks and appreciation to Drs. Eze and Jackson for their expertise, and to the staff of Sunridge Place for their kindness and care over recent months.   Due to distance and age, there will be no celebration of life.    Please consider a donation to your local hospital foundation or favourite charity.