Our dearly beloved Little Mum and Granny passed away on October 29, 2013, after a brief illness, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was born on September 23, 1923, in Porthgwarra, Cornwall, UK, to Alfred and Elizabeth Olive Harvey. When her family moved to Canada, they first lived with her mum’s sister Minnie Triggs in Rossland and later moved to Trail. She married our dad, Patrick Eugene Ewings, on August 7, 1947. Before her marriage, she worked for the BC Telephone Company as an operator. Once her children were old enough, she worked at the Eaton’s catalogue department and later at the Sears catalogue department.
Sheila loved to smile at and say hi to everyone. She appreciated every kindness, no matter how small. She loved reading, singing, going for drives, wildflowers, birds, poetry, old movies, crossword puzzles, and her home away from home, the Hume Hotel, where she could visit with her “second family”. Little Mum is survived by six devoted children and their families: Sherry Ewings of Victoria; John Ewings of Trail; Clayden Ewings of Trail; Ricki Ewings (Joslyn Sharp) and daughter Sarah Sharp of Trail; Patrick Ewings (Darlene) of Kelowna, daughter Jessica (Jeff) of Kelowna, and son Chris (Linnea) of Vernon; Rosalie Schroeder (Ken) of Warfield; daughter Lori (Kyle) of Cranbrook; and son David (Jocelyn) of Castlegar.
Little Mum was predeceased by her parents; her cherished little boy Eugene Clayden (Genie); her husband, Patrick; her brother, Bill Harvey; and his wife Rita. Mum was very humble, and at her request, there will be no service. Mum supported dozens of charities, including the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International, and Covenant House (Vancouver). If you would like to make a gesture in remembrance of our mother’s generous and loving life, we would be honoured by a donation in her memory to any of these, the KBRH Health Foundation in support of the family room on third floor medical at KBRH, or any charity of your choice.
We wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Marnie Jacobsen, who cared for our mum for many years and in her final hours, as well as the doctors, nurses, ambulance attendants, emergency team, and all the other staff at KBRH who helped our dear mum. We especially appreciate the wonderful nursing staff on the third floor, who made mum as comfortable as possible in her final days.
Special thanks to Dave Leonard and all the other bus drivers in Trail, and to the amazing management and staff of the Hume Hotel in Nelson.
Our world is forever diminished, yet we are overflowing with Little Mum’s love and will have her with us always.
Gwen Ziprick of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family’s online register at www.myalternatives.ca