On June 03, 2012, I lost my mom, Pearl Shaw-MacLaren. Mom had always been my bright guiding light, though that light dimmed when my dad Ramsay, passed away three years ago. Mom was born Margaret Prentice on July 08, 1924 in Hamilton Scotland. Her parents, Tom and Nan, immigrated to Canada in 1928 with her brothers Tom and Bob and they settled in Coldstream, where grandpa worked as an orchard foreman and sister Isobel and brother Gord were born.
Mom worked in the Post Office until she was the first woman from Vernon to join the Woman’s Royal Canadian Naval Service and was stationed at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. Mom told me many stories of her cross-Canada train trips on leave. According to an old diary entry, mom met my dad at a dance in Oyama where his parents lived and they were married on May 24, 1947. They lived in Vernon and Dad began working for BC Hydro. I (their only child, Lynne) was born in 1951. BC Hydro transferred Dad to Salmon Arm in 1956, where they made it home for the rest of their lives. A volunteer program through the Kinette Club in the late 1950’s lead to a real job at the Health Unit which lasted until 1985.
Mom did everything well, great cook, excellent seamstress, gracious hostess and I still have sweaters that that mom knitted for me. I’m not sure mom loved gardening quite as much as dad but that didn’t mean mom didn’t pickle, can or freeze everything dad grew.
In contrast to her basically Scottish sensibilities, mom loved to go to Reno, twice a year for over 25 years, mom went with her mom, her good friend Frankie Fraser, my dad and even I got to go with her on the last few trips. Mom took some wonderful vacations with Frankie to Nashville, Las Vegas a Panama Canal Cruise all which Frankie chronicled in albums that made you feel like you were there, too.
Mom was crucial to me opening my Salon in 1981, where she was my “gofer”. Daily visits to deliver mail, fold towels, get change and sweep floors kept us “ship shape”.
When it became necessary for mom and dad to leave their house, the Shuswap Lodge became their home. Mom’s love of music continued there enjoying lots of entertainment and sing-a-longs. Mom’s memory might have faded for some things but she never forgot the words to a song.
I want to express my deepest-thanks to Jane, Grace and their caring staff at the Lodge for always going above and beyond. I also want to thank Dr. Venter for making the final days of both my parents as easy as possible and the wonderful nurses at Shuswap Lake General Hospital for their compassion and support.
There will be no service by request.
Goodbye Mom, may you dance with Dad forever, Love Lynne.
Online condolences can be sent through Pearl’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com