August 24, 1944 - March 3, 2019
Christine Laura Simpson, beloved wife, mum and friend, quietly slipped away from us on March 3, 2019 at the age of 74.
Born in Bournemouth, England on August 25th, 1944, Christine was an only child. She happily grew up surrounded by many adoring aunts and uncles, as well as her loving parents Eunice and John Costa. The family photo album is full of pictures of adventures: beach excursions to Mudeford Beach in Dorset to dig for clams, playing 'poohsticks' on a countryside bridge, trips to the London Zoo, exploring ancient castle ruins and family holidays to Switzerland. In April 1962, she met her first husband, Alexander, at the Royal Ballrooms in Bournemouth and by November of that same year they were happily married. A son, Alan, was born in Nailsea, England in May 1964. Struck by an irresistible sense of wanderlust, the family moved from England to Australia in 1967. After several years, homesickness for the misty isles brought them back to England in 1971 - a few months later, having suffered through a bout of the 'worst flu in history' coupled with a miserable, damp English winter, they came to their senses and promptly boarded a ship back to sunny, warm Australia where their daughter Julie was born in early 1972. It wasn't long before wanderlust struck yet again, this time leading the growing family to the South Island of New Zealand, where David was born in 1973 and finally, to Canada, where they settled in Calgary in 1976. Life doesn't always work out the way we plan - in 1986, Christine and Alexander divorced on amicable terms and remained close and life-long friends. In 1988, Christine met and married Dale Simpson -together for over 30 years, they worked as a husband-and-wife team, eventually settling in the Tappen, B.C. area with their motley assortment of pets.
Christine was a unique lady, unconventional, but always stayed true to herself, her beliefs and the things close to her heart. To her kids, she was never a 'milk and cookies' kind of mum - although she was known for making the most delectable, richest Christmas pudding and custard, a throwback to her proud British heritage. She liked to hog the video game console for hours, driving us crazy (she was a master at Astrosmash on the Intellivision.) She loved good music played loud and spent many happy hours transferring her impressive vinyl collection onto tape, always warning us kids "not to bounce on the floor!" and cause the record to skip. To the envy of our friends with a more conventional parent, we grew up watching movies like Cheech & Chong and History of the World: Part 1. You can get a good sense of her style of humour with this gag Christmas gift found under the tree one year - a cheque for a million dollars drawn from the 'Bank of Dumb Shit' - (go watch Nice Dreams if you don't get the joke - we still chuckle over that one.) She was a very talented seamstress and sewed many of her own clothes, including matching mother-and-daughter outfits (much to the dismay of said daughter.) She had a distinct personal style all her own, along with a curious and open mind. She was active in the Peace Movement in the 1980's, and in later years, she loved to sit and do cross-stitch and listen to late-night radio, especially Coast-to-Coast AM with Art Bell. She loved country drives and picnics - Skimikin Lake in the Shuswap was a favourite spot to go with her many beloved dogs.
And so we come to the end. The end of a life, but not the end of her spirit, which will live on in her husband, children and grandchildren, friends and loves. She will be forever missed and lovingly remembered by her loving husband of 30 years, Dale Simpson, and cat Catkin; Daughter Julie (Daniel) of Cranbrook, BC, sons Alan (Anne-Marie) of Calgary, AB and David (Iris) of Kelowna, BC; grandchildren Laura, Patrick and Nigel. Pre-deceased by her ex-husband (but friends to the end) Alexander Matchett, and her loving parents Eunice and John. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Fischer's Funeral Home, Salmon Arm, BC. Donations can be made in Christine's name to the SPCA. A special thank-you and big hugs to the nurses and staff at Bastion Place who took such gentle and loving care of our mum. A family gathering will take place at a later date.
We love you so very much, with all our hearts forever and always - 'til we meet again.
Share condolences and memories online through Christine's obituary at www.fischersfuneralservices.com.
Fischer's Funeral Service