CRITES
Elwood (Woody)
Oct. 9, 1944 – Mar. 26, 2008
Woody passed away Wed., Mar. 26, after a short illness but a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Woody was predeceased by his parents and several brothers, & is survived by his brother Morris, sisters Pauline, Jean, Violet, Muriel, & Dawn, and sister-in-law Margaret Crites. He is also survived by his wife Heather & children Victoria & Ben; and by his first wife Brigitte, his daughter Anja White (Orville), grandchildren Navarre, Rasheedah, Antonio & Cardell; and by many other in-laws, nephews and nieces.
Woody proudly served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1961 – 1989, including 5 years in Germany, and tours with the United Nations in Lebanon, and Egypt and Cyprus twice. In 2000, Woody was awarded the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal for his 4 ½ years spent with the United Nations.
Mechanics was Woody’s passion, whether as his career in the military or working in his own hobby shop, and he was well known for his expertise. When he came to live in the Extended Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital he transferred his skills into woodworking and became a handyman for the unit, fixing things, building birdhouses and helping where he could.
Woody lived for over ten years in ECU, and the family would like to extend their thanks to all the staff, volunteers and friends at ECU who were like a second family to him.
A memorial service will be held in the Comox Legion, Monday, April 7, at 1 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Society of BC at 1-800-668-3330.