May 26, 1953 – May 5, 2011
Cheryl passed away in the company of family and friends after a lengthy, courageous and inspirational battle with breast cancer. Cheryl was born in Moncton, New Brunswick and lived in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Great Britain before settling in Victoria. Cheryl thoroughly enjoyed her work, the many friends she made and places she visited during her years in the travel industry. She loved travelling with her husband John, her lifelong friend Rebecca and any other friends and relatives she could persuade to come along. Cheryl is survived by her husband, John; her mother, Rachel; her brother, Greg; sisters-in-law, Judy, Jane and Mary Jane; brother-in-law David; and beloved nieces and nephews, Michael, Jeffrey, Alissa, Thomas, Eileen and Crystal; plus numerous cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her father, Reverend Ronald Stevens. Her infectious smile, outgoing positive outlook on life will be sorely missed by all who knew her. The family would like to express appreciation to the caregivers at the Royal Jubilee Hospital RP1 and 4 Centre and the outstanding staff of the Richmond Unit of the Glengarry Hospital for their compassion and care. They added greatly to Cheryl’s quality of life in her final months.
A Memorial Service will be held in MCCALL BROS. FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson & Vancouver Streets, on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada or a charity of choice would be appreciated. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
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bendy tingley
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Dave & Jane McCracken John
Please accept our sincere condolences on Cheryl’s passing – she was a wonderful person. We are in Victoria and only got an e-mail from Frank & Sandi Trepanier on Wednesday. We were up island yesterday (May 19) and only read the obituary this evening. We wish we had read it sooner as we would have attended the service yesterday.
With best regards,
Dave & Jane McCracken
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Dave and Cindy Hurl John
Cindy and I offer our deepest sympathy on your loss. We will be thinking of you today. Cheryl will be missed by many.Dave Hurl
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Larry and Judi Olsen John:
Judi and I were saddened to hear the news of Cheryl passing. We’ll miss her wonderful smiles and grand-scale greetings at the travel shop.Regret that business has us out of the area on Thursday and we will not be able to attend the service. Will promise to connect when I return. It’s been too long since we got together for a weepers.
God Bless,
Larry
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Deborah McLeod I am one of the many clients Cheryl worked with during her years in the travel industry. I was her client for only a few years before I moved too far from Victoria to make our client/agent relationship practical, although I did see her in passing a few times when I returned to the city. Even though my interactions with Cheryl must be a mere blip in the thousands of clients she dealt with in her career, how she treated me has become a touchstone for how I try to deal with the people whose lives touch mine.
Cheryl did nothing particularly heroic for me. She booked my travel. She got me where I needed to go. She was good at it. So are thousands of other travel agents. But what made a difference to me was that she treated me as a person who needed help with my travel rather than a potential source of revenue or just another travel transaction. She asked me about my kids. She was happy to see me. And, God knows, she went more than a few extra miles to find the cheapest way to get me where I needed to go.
When I knew Cheryl I was a poor graduate student with a family. I was studying in one province and living in another. Every penny mattered. I remember one time when I had the opportunity to present a paper at a big conference in Newfoundland. It was a huge opportunity for me but it could have been in China as far as my budget was concerned. Most travel agents would have quoted me the standard Victoria-St. John’s price. Cheryl worked at it and worked at it until she had finagled an unbelievably cheap ticket for me going via Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Stephenville and St. John’s. I can still remember how hard she laughed and how delighted she was when I came back and told her that on the way home I had been bumped twice which meant I had almost made money on the ticket! I know now that she made almost nothing on that ticket. She did that work to help me because she delivered top-notch customer service and because she had a huge and caring heart.
One of my sons now owns a travel agency. We talk a lot about customer service and we use Cheryl’s name as shorthand for the best of the best. To me she epitomized the human touch in business. I cannot imagine how many lives she touched or how many people will be sorry she is no longer with us. Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. I hope you will be comforted by knowing that she made a difference in the lives of many of the people she served through her profession.
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Candace DeKuyper Our hearts are with you in your time of loss.
The DeKuyper Family
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Roy and Cheryl Harman Our deepest sympathy to you John. May your fond memories sustain you.
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Heather and Dennis Carpenter Cheryl was a dear. We shall miss her infectious laughter, big smile and upbeat personality. We never got the opportunity to travel with her on those ‘adventures’ that she so relished but she helped us to plan our own adventures and we certainly appreciated her expertise, helpful experience and professionalism. We are sure she’ll be the head travel agent for the angels. Bless you darling Cheryl.
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Rosemarie Spindler I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Cheryl. She was a good friend to so many. I knew her through her work as a travel agent, her infectious smile and”Hello there” will remain with me. She has gone to join my dearest daughter, Marion who, like Cheryl, battled against cancer for five and a half years, she passed away November 15th 2010 and I grieve for her every day. You have my deepest sympathy in your great loss.
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David Adams I’m very sorry to hear about your loss.
Our prayers are with you guys. I hope time heals your pain quickly and your memories last forever.
Dave Adams
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Marjorie Miller(Kenn) The Lockhart Family,
Thinking of you all at this difficult time.
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Mike Brossard I am very sorry to hear of Cheryl’s passing. I remember her as having a very cheerful and upbeat personality. I appreciated her help in vacation planning when she was a travel agent.
Please accept my sincerest sympathy.
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Debby Cooke Dear John , family and friends;
I am so sorry to hear of Cheryl’s passing. Although I have not visited with Cheryl or John for many years, I will always remember the good times we had while I lived in Victoria. Cheryl was the type of woman who always made you feel welcome and at ease in her home. Her infectious laugh was one that drew you in and made you happy . Cheryl will be missed by her friends.
Thinking of you in this time of loss.
Debby Cooke
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Phyllis McAuley & family I was so saddened and shocked to read the passing of Cheryl in todays paper, I often used to stop by her office to say hello, will always remember her smiling face & the good times we used to have at the Lobster dinners. They say that time heals, maybe it does, but keep the fond memories in your heart each day.
God Bless
Phyllis
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Michelle (Purdy) Johnstone John,
I am so sorry for your loss, Cheryl was truly a wonderful person, hadn’t seen her in person in many years but kept well up to date through Rebecca. The many fun and wonderful memories I have of her is truly a blessing. To this day I still make her steak recipe that we so enjoyed one weekend in Halifax while you were out to sea. I was hoping for a miracle so that Rebecca and her could travel to PEI this summer and we could reunite in person but alas that isn’t to be, will wait and join her someday where she is now in heaven. I will treasure her last letter to me that I received at Easter and just know my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
God Belss
Michelle
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Mona and Alan Ellis Rae, John and family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.Love
Mona and Alan
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Roseann Myers Dear John:
It’s been many years since I saw you & Cheryl but I will never forget the fun my ex-husband Doug & I had with you both & Sue & Gord when newlyweds posted to Victoria 1987-1992. My sincere sympathy goes out to you.
Roseann Myers
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Sue Brine and Gord Curry John and family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all – we loved Cheryl and will miss her – she was truly an inspiration to us all during this long journey and we cherished her friendship.
We will be thinking of you all in the days ahead and will be in touch soon. Love and hugs Sue and Gordy
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Cheryl MacLaggan John, my deepest sympathy in the loss of your dear wife Cheryl.
Mrs. Rae Stevens, please accept my heartfelt condolences and know that I share in your grief.
Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow; May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.
Loving remembered by her childhood friend, Cheryl Swinamer.
John,
I have not seen you or Cheryl in years but I want you to know that I always found Cheryl to be the epitome of kindness and caring.I wish
we could have shared more time together.
May you find the strength to carry her love and memories as life goes on.