November 20, 2021
In loving memory ~
At 10:04 Saturday night, the 20th our Sal ran out of steam. It was a long run. 41 years as a wife and partner to Derek, 25 years in the film and TV business in Bristol, East Africa, Indonesia Vancouver and Victoria.
Two years in a partnership with her friend Randi Jones and their cleaning business, four years with Derek cruising Mexico,Central America and Colombia. She spent five years learning to paint. All of that with a monkey on her back. Sal was diagnosed at age 36 with early onset Parkinson's Disease - an incurable and degenerative disease. We'd been married for two years. That wasn't the way she chose to be known. 39 years with Parkinson's Disease is a long road.
In her own way she was fearless, she attracted good people like a magnet, And you know who you are.
There's a long list of caring professionals at Comox's, The Views, the doctors and staff at UBC's Movement Disorder Clinic and her Doctors here in the Valley. She was especially fond of Dr. Mark Woldnik in Cumberland.
Sally handled what was thrown at her with 'grace'. She never buckled under this load, never complained. She was polite, understanding and very tolerant. She loved her friends, her pets and everyone who had time for her.
There are going to be friends and acquaintances out there who are going to feel guilty about not seeing Sal recently. Don't! She knew you were there. Her long term memory was full of good stories, adventures and kind people - you were all there.
We'll be forever grateful to the incredible loving, talented and patient staff at St. Joe's, the Views. They don't get any better and thank you Dr. Burgess.
Sally asked for no service but we'll wait a bit and have some small remembrances later. She'll understand.