February 12, 1924 – July 16, 2010
With great sadness, the family of Faith Reimer announce her passing on July 16th, 2010. We have lost a bright light. Courageous to the end, Faith passed away peacefully in Victoria Hospice.
Faith is survived by Dave Reimer, the love of her life for 64 years. She is also survived by her loving children and their spouses, Derek Reimer (Maxine Charlesworth), Catherine Panter (Randy), and Christine Reimer (Bruce Heayn), her siblings, Frank Woodward, Connie Roberts, Felicity Morgan, Chris Woodward and their spouses, many other family members, former colleagues and friends. She will be especially missed by her six grandchildren, Allison, Andrew, Joe, David, Caitlin and Emily and their partners, and by her two great-grandchildren, Olivia and Max.
Faith had many talents and a fine mind and used her gifts to carry on a productive and joyful life. Dearly loved by her family for her liveliness and good sense, she formed meaningful connections with each family member regardless of diversities of style, interest or age. Her last months were filled with the same humour, grace and optimism that carried her through all her life.
Faith was the perfect match with her husband, Dave. They met at UBC and both were teachers who had a strong influence on their students. In partnership, they raised their children, flourished in their careers and then enjoyed many years of travel around the globe together. They visited every continent, except Antarctica. In later years, Faith received equal pleasure from the travels of her children and grandchildren. They hosted innumerable “family scrums” where the always lively discussions followed the “don’t talk while I’m interrupting” protocol. Open and fair-minded debate on many subjects was the order of the day. Faith, as matriarch of this noisy crowd, took huge delight and managed it all with her unvarying attitude of “can do and no complaints”.
Victoria born and bred, Faith had a deep appreciation of her family roots and local history. She attended Victoria High School, taught History and English there, in addition to playing a pivotal role in the establishment and operation of the school Archives. She was recently recognized by naming the Archives room as the Faith Reimer Room. This recognition brought her great pleasure in the last weeks of her life.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Lucille Porlares, Mum’s care-giver, and Elaine Mudie, friend and neighbour. Sincere appreciation also goes to the Red Cross and to the VIHA Home Care Nurses, especially Kory. Their support made it possible for Faith to remain at home until the last few days of her life.
A Celebration of Faith’s life will be held on Saturday, July 31st at 2:30 p.m. in St. Michael and All Angels Church, 4733 W. Saanich Road with reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory to the Red Cross, or the Victoria High School Alumni Association Archives, 1260 Grant Street, V8T 1C2, would be appreciated.
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Darlene Loughlean (formerly Froese)
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Angela and Christopher Justice Dear Christine,
We were saddened to hear about the death of your mother and wished to pass on to you, Bruce, Caitlin and Emily and all the family our sincere condolences. Your mother certainly had a long and fulfilled life and this will be of great help in coming to terms with such a great loss.
With kindest regards,
Chris and Angela.
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Pam Guilbault Derek and Maxine,
Our sympathies at this time for you. Faith’s obituary reads of an amazing women who clearly relished all that life offered. I can see you share many similar characteristics so she will live on in you. I love the ‘don’t talk while I’m interrupting protocol’ and will try that out on my family dinners.
Love to you both,
Pam and Alan Guilbault
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Michael Rooksby Faith sent me such a lovely and positive letter a while ago and it is just recently that I replied so I hope she got to read it. She was such a lovely person, but no pushover, that’s for sure – she was her own person and pursued her own interests with integrity and enthusiasm. Dave was always very aware of her huge contributions as a partner, as a parent, as a teacher, as a friend to so many, as I’m sure that her grandchildren, as well as her children, know well. I may not be able to be there on Saturday, but I shall be thinking of you all as you give thanks for a wonderful life and for the influences for the good that she brought to every venture.
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Patricia Hamlin Faith and I shared the love of fabric. I have one of her crazy quilt cushions in my living room and it is as colourful and full of life – just like Faith. I cherish it. She brought joy to many people’s lives, including mine.
She is missed and my thoughts are with you at this time.
With love,
Patricia
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Barbara (McKellar) Bulman-Fleming To all the family, I extend my deepest sympathy. Dave was my homeroom teacher and English teacher at Oak Bay, and then Dave and Faith were our bus ‘parents’ on the ’64 trip to Europe after graduation. We kept in touch for years when Syd and I were living in Waterloo – we have recently moved back to Victoria.
Both Dave and Faith were such wonderful examples of kindness, intellingence, interest in others and tolerance. I think of them, and of all of you, often, as I have two of Christine’s paintings on our walls, and am looking now, as I type, at a photo of a Christine painting that Dave and Faith sent me years ago that I had framed and that hung in my office at the University of Waterloo for years.
How lucky you are to be related to such lovely people – this will sustain you in the weeks and months ahead, and she will always be with you in spirit.
Love,
Barbara (bfleming@uwaterloo.ca)
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Phillip Allen Froese My deepest sympathy for Uncle Dave, and for my cousins Derek, Catherine, and Christine, and their families. Vale to my Auntie Faith – a strong, intelligent, and cheerful soul. We cherish your memory. With love from nephew Allen, and his daughters Bridget and Deirdre.
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Peggy Tally Dear Family Reimer,
Our condolences to you as you say good-bye to such a special person in all of your lives. The words in Faith’s obituary not only captured her remarkable talents and qualities but also gave a true sense of the deep love and admiration everyone had for Faith. A beautiful tribute to a beautiful woman.
May your days be eased by your memories of her gifts of wisdom and grace, which she lovingly gave to each of you.With sincere sympathy,
Peggy and Raul
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W J Fred Froese Dear Uncle Dave and Derek and Catherine and Christine
and Maxine and Randy and Bruce and all the children —
Your Mom and your Dad too — are / were amazing role models
for all the people that they touched.I am thinking about you as you all think about and recall the good times over the years.
I am in Oakville — near Napa — house -sitting for a couple for the next 30 days — so unfortunately cannot arrange to be at
Aunt Faith’s Memorial Service.I send my love to you all,
Fred Froese
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Bruce & Laurel Stanton As out of town friends of Christine & Bruce’s we only had the opportunity to meet Faith once or twice. I remember on one of those occasions she was planning Dave’s retirement party. We were touched by her enthusiasm and joy and by her genuine interest in our opinion of the menu.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family as you deal with your loss in the days and months ahead. May the strength and virtue that she planted in you as your mother, grandmother, sister and friend see you through.
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Kay Beckett Dear Bruce Christine Emily and Caitlin:
I just want to tell you how much I appreciated your mum/grandmum/mum-in-law and what a joy she was to us especially during the Oak Bay Theatre days. Barb and I would call on her and she never complained even when it was to do “icky “sewing tasks like hemming. I know how much joy she got from all of you –your performances, your life, your family fun. I would run into her in our neighbourhood Save-On (she and I have matching cars!!) and she would always stop and chat (aka explore the universe) with me. Such a lovely lady!! I know you will miss her so much and so will all of us!! Love to you at this time. I know it has been a very rough road. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Love Kay Paul and Evan.
Christine , Bruce, Caitlin and Emily
I was looking up a friend of mine father’s obituary and saw that your Mother had just passed away. I know from having been in the Froese clan just how highly regarded your Mom and Dad are from Fred’s perspective. I think of our time together every time I see one of your paintings here in Kelowna Christine.
May you be comforted by all your memories of your Mom.
Sincerely,
Darlene