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Myrtle Ruth DeArmond (McFadden)

September 7, 2015

DeArmond-Myrtleweb

September 21, 1922 – September 7, 2015

Our lovely mother, Myrtle Ruth DeArmond (nee McFadden), passed away Monday, September 7, 2015, age 92, at Ocean View, Comox, BC. with family at her side. Mom was born Myrtle Ruth McFadden on Sep 21, 1922, on the homestead near Paisley Ontario. She was predeceased by husband, Rupert (Bert) DeArmond, parents Russell and Elizabeth McFadden (nee Rushton), and two brothers, Robert and James. She grew up on the farm, and had her high values instilled in her by her parents and the United Church.

Upon leaving school, she completed a six-month hairdressing course and then purchased a hairdressing salon in Southampton, Ont, which she named Blue Bird. She enjoyed this for 5 years, until her girlfriend asked Mom to join her on a double date with a “Mountie” who was in town for a court case. That “Mountie” was her first and only love, and she married Rupert (Bert) Lester DeArmond in 1945 just before he was posted to Saskatoon. From Saskatoon they were posted to Calgary, and after leaving the RCMP they lived in Nelson BC, Cranbrook BC, Fort McMurray, AB, and then retired back to Cranbrook, before moving to Courtenay in 1992.

Mom enjoyed being busy all the time – she always worked; inside and outside the home. Inside she continued her hairdressing skills while their children attended school, and later outside the home in various retail positions such as Sears, People’s Jewellery, or ladies boutique shops. She loved doing crafts and tried them all from painting, needlework, copper tooling, sewing, knitting, quilting, to candle-making. Mom was also an excellent cook and gardener. They had a cabin at Tie Lake outside of Cranbrook where they loved to go to relax – no housework was a rule at the cabin – sweep the dirt from one side of the cabin and out the other door was her motto. When not at the lake, they enjoyed travelling, especially cruising.

Mom was active in the UCW of the United Church, the Kiwanis Club, TOPS, Celtic Club, Driftwood Mall Walking Group and Sonshine Lunch Club. Family, friends and The United Church were most important in her life. They had 3 children, 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Surviving her are daughter Pam and husband Noel and children (Patrick/Shawna Dominic Liv) and (Kevin/Lawrence), son Jon and wife Cathy and children (Jeffrey/Teresa and Chloe) and (Stacey/Chris and Mason), daughter Louise and husband Brent, sisters-in-law Ellen Cuppen and Elizabeth DeArmond along with many loved nephews and nieces.

Our family would like to extend our gratitude to Dr Laura Bell, along with the wonderful and caring staff at Ocean View who provided loving care to Mom as she struggled during the last couple of years. Especially this last weekend, our heartfelt thanks go to Dr Emmott and the weekend shift at Ocean View, for their compassionate care of Mom and for the support they provided the family. Mom passed on the eve of her 70th Wedding Anniversary and we smiled as we knew there would be dining and dancing in heaven that night, as she was reunited with Dad and all her other family and friends waiting to welcome her home.

Mom was honoured with a small private family ceremony and interred with Dad in the Courtenay Civic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Society of BC at 1-800-667-3742 or The Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC at 1-888-473-4636.


Those we love don't go away,

They walk beside us every day,

Unseen, unheard, but always near,

Still loved, still missed and very dear

You are so loved, Mom, forever and ever.



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