It has been a very trying time.
I have been looked after and guided by many people; Our friends and our family have been relentless in making sure I’m OK. Their job is not done yet but I’m confident they are winning. It turned my world upside down as well as others of course, and not just those of my family. We shared her with a lot of people.
On Saturday the 1st of November I will be leaving for a cruise with my friends Jim, Kathleen, Mike and Carol and assorted other Martini Mates. We are going through the Panama Canal. A trip that Jude and I had planned for well over a year. On my return I will continue on with the site and a return to what is now the norm for me and my gang.
I have placed her story here in the blog so that everyone that comes by is aware of her death and becomes a bit more aware of what she meant to all of us..
Please leave a comment if you are comfortable in doing so.
Judy was born in 1945 in Regina, SK. Her parents, Fred and Muriel Winn withJudith, Ken and Sue in tow arrived in BC in 1954, first living in North Burnaby behind the Royal Canadian Legion on Hastings Street. Her sister Marg was born after their arrival here. A move to Fraserview in Vancouver was accomplished by means of a Veterans Housing mortgage. Basically, she was a South Van kid.
She began her health-oriented career by graduating from VGH Nursing in 1966. She joined her first group in training and the “7” of them have been as thick as thieves ever since. There now are five remaining members of that group.
While in training and out “driving” with a girl friend they were pulled over by a young Mountie not far from that same Legion on Hastings Street. He had become suspicious of the Studebaker that had gone past him slowly for the third time. The young beat cop believing in due diligence even back then, felt that the passenger required further investigating. Judith continued to be investigated for some 49 more years as she married that young beat cop in 1967. The wedding reception was held in that same Legion on Hastings Street.
Judy worked at St. Mary’s hospital until Rob was born in New Westminster in 1971 when she and Bob were living in North Delta. Chris was born in Hazelton in 1974 after their move there in 1972. Judy did some nursing in Cassiar from 1975 through 1978 on a casual basis where Bob was posted with the RCMP in 1975. During that time she also was a Provincial Mining Recorder. While in Cassiar along with several other moms she also managed to start the first PAC group in BC at the school.
She was a mom and a toy maker from 1978 to 1986 when her family lived in Salmon Arm. She continued her health career when they moved to Chilliwack as shop steward of the HEU and working as a unit clerk in Emergency (aka. the Desk Sheriff). Judy also worked in Administration with the Fraser Health Authority.
The family arrived in Chilliwack in 1986 just in time for Expo. After all the years moving around BC, this has become home. After Bob retired in 1991 Jude got “on her horse” so to speak and her accomplishments, ideas and good hard work touched many. She was also the best grandmother ever.
After her “retirement” she found a better fit as the manager of Logan Manor, an assisted living complex in Agassiz, BC. While managing the complex she was also teaching medical terminology courses for the UFV Continuing Education Department. She was still chasing after and caring for her “Oldies” when she became ill.
Judy loved sports. She was the main instigator and the guiding light in the development of the Chilliwack Sports Hall of Fame which opened in 2013. While living in the north and the interior of BC she was an avid curler. Among her sports accomplishments was an amazing “Eight Ender.” She was Rob and Chris’ first ball coach, a great hockey mom and grandma and a devoted fan of all levels of Salmon Arm
and Chilliwack hockey. She was also on the executives of minor hockey in both Salmon Arm and Chilliwack.
In March of 2013 she became the proud recipient of the RCMP “Second Man’’ award for her “Steadfast and loyal support of the RCMP and its members” while at an isolated post. More times than could be counted she was the life line for the community when Bob was not reachable while on duty away in the many square miles of the Cassiar detachment’s area.
As a passionate cruiser she was a proud member of the “Duck Crew” and the “Martini Mates.”
We are certain that Judy would be well remembered by a donation in her name to any of these organizations:
The Canadian Cancer Society
www.cancer.ca
The Chilliwack Hospice Society
www.chilliwackhospice.org
Chilliwack Sports Hall of Fame
www.chilliwacksportshalloffame.com
Judy is survived by her husband Bob, son Rob and his
family Cheryl, Caitlynn and Josh; son Chris and his family
Denise, Mason and Jane; her brother Ken and his family
Lynne, Michael, Laura and Paul and her sisters , Sue and
her family Rick and Sam; Margaret and her family Derek,
Andy, Jessie and Anthony; Bob’s brother Peter and his
family Wanda, Michael, Jen, and her family, Chris and
Madelyn. Judith was predeceased
by her parents, Fred and
Muriel Winn.
Jude is irreplaceable and will be missed forever.
That is the understatement of the millennium.