Tribute

Our mother Sally passed away peacefully surrounded by her children at Cowichan Hospice House, the same site as her birth at King’s Daughters Hospital, 89 years ago.

She is predeceased by her spouse, Homer, her parents Horace (Cap) and Dorothy Townsend and her brother Bill.

Mom was born and raised in Duncan BC, she attended Duncan Elementary and graduated from Cowichan High School in 1953. Her first employment was at the age of 13 working as a florist assistant for Cliffside Florist. She then worked at the Odeon Theatre in Duncan until graduation. Mom attended St. Ann’s Academy business course in Victoria. She then secured employment with the I.W.A. office in Duncan in 1954 where she remained employed until her marriage to Homer in September 1957.

She returned to work at the I.W.A. in 1972 and continued until 1979 when she became employed in the financial market with Midland Doherty. She took her securities course and here remained until retirement in 1989.

Mom always said the best years of her life were when she retired. She was a member of the Manzanita Hiking Club, the Cowichan Historical Society, Cowichan Golf Club and is a lifetime member of the Cowichan Valley Garden Club.

Her winters were spent curling at the Duncan Curling Club of which she was a member for over 50 years. Summers were spent camping, boating, and spending time at her lakefront property at Honeymoon Bay which she owned for 26 years. Here is where so many treasured family memories were made with her children and grandchildren. Mom was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, historian, hiker, and author of 3 books, an avid and passionate gardener and loved her genealogy research.

Her adventurous spirit led her on many road trips, hiking trails and worldwide travels. Some of her favourites being a West Indies cruise in 1979 and her garden tours to England, New Zealand, South Africa and Haida Gwaii. Mom had a wealth of friends and kept a very active social life. She was in continual touch with childhood friends dating back 84 years.

Mom remained active until the last couple of months of her life. Her motto was that “You have to keep moving”, and she did. She swam in her beloved Lake Cowichan until 88 years of age, she tended to her garden and treasured her springtime walks on her property to enjoy her Easter lilies on the banks of Averil Creek.

Mom and Dad were married for 57 years until Dad’s passing in 2015. Mom is survived by her 4 children, Cindy (Don) Cyr, Brad Smith, Susan (Len) Jeffery, Graeme Smith, 8 Grandchildren, Shane (Nicole) Cyr, Corey (Paige) Cyr, Darren Cyr, Melanie (Cody) Biduke, Kendall (Phil) Motherwell, Miranda (Michael) Motherwell, Colin (Kristy) Motherwell, Maddie (Garrett) Margetts, 12 Great Grandchildren, Lucas, Hailey, MacKenzie, Azaleah, Jayde, Kyver, Annabelle, Brady, Cohen, Kane, Oaklyn and Stella. Brother Gary Townsend, Sister-in-law Janet and many nieces and nephews.

The family wish to give special thanks to Dr Rasul Al-Kutbi, the Homecare nurses and the staff at Cowichan Hospice House.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cowichan Historical Society.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, September 21 2024 at H.W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre, 2853 Roberts Rd, Duncan.