Passed away suddenly on October 4, 2009. She was born in Victoria on October 19, 1986. Predeceased by her father, Christopher Pocha and her grandfather, Robert Clow. Survived by her mother, Patricia Clow; grandmother, Beverley Clow (Ken Lackey) and many extended family and friends. Heidi was a Steward aboard HMCS Winnipeg. She was into athletics and drawing. Heidi loved to spend time with family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all who loved and knew her.
Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 13:00 at St. Peter’s Naval Chapel, 307 Virago Crescent, Belmont Park, Victoria, BC with a reception to follow at Colwood Pacific Activity Centre, 2610 Rosebank Road. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the S.P.C.A., 3150 Napier Lane, Victoria BC, V8T 4V5.
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mike beauchamp
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Cheryl Elliott Patricia…
Words cannot convey my thoughts for you at this time. I am devastated for you. Although I never met Heidi, it was not hard to see the admiration, love and pride you had for your daughter. My heart goes out to you. Hold on tight to the beautiful memories you have of Heidi and she will live on forever.
Cheryl
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Betty Lackey (Nee Cole) Dear Pat
I remember Heidi from her school years at QES and through her friend Katie Sergeant of Perth. My heart goes out to you and your family. I have been reading the condolences and they all seem to convey the same thoughts of Heidi; that she was a vibrant, strong, outgoing young woman committed to serving our country and a daughter to be very proud of.
Betty, Ritchie and Marcy Lackey
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Amber Snyder My heart goes out to Heidi’s family. She was a great person, and fun to be around. She will be missed. You will be in my prayers.
Amber
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Maureen Vickers Pat
My Prayers are with you and your family.
Maureen
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Whitney barham Pat, I had the privalage of working with Heidi very closely for the last year on the winnipeg. I miss her dearly and there for cant imagine what you are going through. I am not very good at this, but what i will say is Heidi was my shining star and my moon and she is watching over us all. Pat If you are anything like Heidi I am sure you are a beautiful star yourself . My heart is with you .
With love
whitney
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Warren Danforth Pat,
My most sincere Condolences
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CPO2 Mike Simoneau Patricia
I would like to offer my deepest condolences on your loss. I had the occasion to have Heidi work with us at Base Borden Accommodations; she was a breath of sunshine everyday of the week. We both would do push-ups in the lobby at work during slower times and she was very good at making the Chief break out in a sweat. I feel great sorrow to know we have lost such a great individual within the Steward family and the CF. Our prayers are with you and the Stewards in Borden are here for you in any way we can help ease your sorrow. She will be missed tremendously by all those who knew her.
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Ed Wall Heidi was a good friend and great Steward. I had the pleasure of meeting Heidi as a friend first and follow Steward. I had the pleasure of training heidi and she was a “get to it” kind of girl. I was away when she passed and my heart fell for her. I know alot of people that will miss Heidi’s attitude, influence and friendship.
Heidi we Love and Miss you. You will be greatly missed by all Stewards and friends
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Jessica Lepine/ Thomas James Wilson i am soo sad to hear this! i wish it was not true!… she was like a sister figure to me when i needed help she was there!:( she knew everyone in the town of perth an everyone knew her ! she was fun, loving, kind, caring, thaughtfull and well respected and a great person over all! she will be sadly missed by everyone from this town and will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN! R.I.P big sister, friend, and family member! love you forever! <3
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CPO2 France Beaulieu My deepest sympathy to Heidi’s immediate family and closest friends. This is indeed very shocking and quite tragic. My heart goes out to you all. She will always be remember.
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Shanna Currie My deepest condolences on your loss, Patty. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Shanna
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Pat Carson Pat-
My heart aches for you! Words fail me, but my thoughts are with you and Heidi.
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Corporal Rick Ayer My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Heidi. I had the pleasure of sailing with her on HMCS Winnipeg, during the deployment the crew and I got to know Heidi as the wonderful person that she was she will be missed.
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Barbara Hoffman Although I only met Heidi one time in the summer of 2007, I liked her right away, and was struck by her honesty and strength. Pat, my heart aches for you, and I wish I could be there with you, but know that my heart and prayers are with you.
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Dave Beadle my deepest sympathy to Heidi’s immediate family and closest friends. This is indeed very shocking and quite tragic. My heart goes out to you all.
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Kevin and Bonnie Bulmer Dear Pat. We are shocked and saddened to hear of Heidi’s passing . I will always remember ,when the band was in scotland and Will and Heidi and I played beanie babies all day every day until your return. a beautiful girl. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Kevin, Bonnie, Will and Lori Bulmer
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Connie Barnes (Larson) Clow, I didnt get to know you very well but spent 8 weeks with you on R0068E, you where an amazing strong person and one of the ones I truly will never forget. My condolences to your family and loves ones… …
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Bill McLean I was deeply saddened to learn of your daughter’s death and I would like to express my sincere sympathy to you and your family . Please accept my heartfelt condolences at this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
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Emily Whyte We were sorry to learn of Heidi’s death and our thoughts are with you at this sad time.
Murray Emily Craig Scott Whyte
Jeff Mary Courtenay and Spencer Whyte
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Becky Downey-Poulin Pat,
Brett and I would like to express our deepest condolences to you and your family.
I had never met your daughter, but every time I see you, you always talk about her and always have wonderful things to say. You are so proud of her accomplishments and that is a great mom!!
I wish you and your family all of the best, and know that we are thinking of you at this time.
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Yvonne Edmiston Dearest Pat – I can only imagine how it must feel to lose a child. Please accept my heartfelt condolances and sympathy. I will remember both of you in my prayers.
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Christine King My heart breaks for Pat and her family. My prayers and thoughts are with the family during this very difficult time.
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Ken Beadle I wrote some words below for a great friend, my heart goes out to her mother, grandparents and the rest of her family.
In Honour of a Dear Friend,
I had the pleasure of getting to know Heidi Clow very well over the past few years even though we came in and out of each others lives. Every time I was visiting Victoria, and when I eventually lived there Heidi and I were able to meet up for a few drinks and talk about anything and everything. We spoke often of home (being Perth) the memories of people that touched our lives and what we had in store for our future. Heidi was a great friend and touched the lives and hearts of many people she came in contact with over the years; whether it was from her adolescence, high school or young adult years.
I know we were all shocked and stunned by the news of her passing on Saturday evening October 3rd. Memories of her rushed through my head as disbelief could not ground me. I thought of the last time I saw her and the laughs we had, as I’m sure everyone did as well. So many questions were running through my head with this one most prevalent, “why did this happen?” I feel as if closure to Heidi’s passing will be difficult to achieve as we do not fully understand why things happened the way they did. But I do know this, I know that Heidi was the type of person who would have wanted us to celebrate her life and not mourn her death.
From the past few years of Heidi’s life I am reminded of a quote that Abraham Lincoln once said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years….
Anyone that knew Heidi would know that over the past few years she lived a life that few of us are accustomed too. She travelled the world as a member of the Canadian Navy serving on the HMCS Winnipeg. Doing this encompassed and represented strength, courage and above all a dedication to her country. She was able to do things that I admire greatly, such as becoming a member of the Naval boarding party where she, along side of an elite Canadian force protected transport ships from renegade Somali pirates. When I saw her in late August of this year I asked her questions about what it was like to have such an occupation. I asked her, “Were you ever scared?” She replied with a smile and a response that showed the modesty of her character. She said, “I was just doing my job.” Her humility is something that will continue to inspire me as time goes on.
Heidi was a daughter, a fellow seamen and great friend.
Some of you may not know but, written on Heidi’s forearm was a tattoo that read, “No one ever really dies.” I find this to be a comforting reminder of hers that in times of tragedy, loved ones have never truly left us, for they live on in our memory.
As Heidi will live on in ours….
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Kelly McGurran Pat,
I know how much you loved Heidi: the phone calls you exchanged, your search for the papasan chair cover, the outings you went on together, and how you hoped to buy a house that you could share.
I also know how proud you were of her: before Heidi’s dad died, you spoke of sending him her photo; you posted her pictures on facebook, and you told me stories of Heidi’s youth and recalled her exploits with the pirates.
Although I didn’t know Heidi, the postings in response to her death tell a story of a beautiful vivacious woman who was loved and will be missed.
Pat, Heidi touched many people while she was on this Earth.
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Ashley Bell You will be sadly missed Heidi. But forever in our hearts, gone but never forgotten…… *cheers to you* untill we meet again.
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kat My condolences goes out to the family. Heidi war a great person and friend who leFt apart Of her in all of us. i will never forget all the great times we have had together. You always knew how to put a smile on peoples faces
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Clarke & Joanne Whyte With our deepest sympathy. Love and Prayers. Clarke & Joanne
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Marie (Kerr) Killeen I can’t even begin to imagine your sorrow and pain.
She was a beautiful young woman.
My deepest sympathies on your loss.
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Derrick Mallory I send my best wishes and condolences to heidis friends and family. She was and will always be one of the best friends i will have the honor and privilage of knowing. She guarded and protected us as a meer mortal, Now shes doing the same thing as a divine angel who will always be watching over us and will always be with us. I miss and love you my friend. See you when it’s my time. Your at peace now.
I’m holding a small local service in the park in Perth for Heidi on 11 october for her friends and family here and for those who cant make it to victoria and would like to say something nice and pay their respects.
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Almanda & Sabrina Hanson Patricia,
Our deepest condolences to you and your family during this very trying time. Heidi was a great person and a great addition to our Steward family, She will never be forgotten. R.I.P. Heidi.
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Chris Leger Patricia
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I had only known Heidi a little over a year but i have spent 7 months at sea with her. In that time, her and i got to know each other pretty well, sharing stories and talking about our families and friends. She was a good person with a good heart and a smile and eyes that lite up a room the moment she walked in. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and always stood up for herself. I’m guessing that is a trait she learned from you. My heart is heavy and she is and always will be, greatly missed
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Katie E Cook Heidi, wherever you are I hope you are at peace and know how much all your friends and family love you. You will be deeply missed and I know I will think of you forever.
Patricia, I have only met you once, I went to PDCI with Heidi and we were pretty close then. I can’t even begin to imagine how you feel but I hope you know you are in alot of people’s thoughts and prayers, including mine. Heidi has touched so many people’s lives and she left a huge impression on all of them, even though my conversations with her have been fewer over the last couple years I really have thought of her often, she was so smart, beautiful, funny and she stood up for what she believed in, she was a feirce woman. Thank you for raising her and making her the woman she was and we all loved.Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effect without the trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner.
All is well.
Henry Scott Holland
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sheldon my deepest condolences to the family,
heidi was a great person, and a good friend….
her smile and cheerful personality will be greatly missed
through out the fleet and to all that new her.
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CPO1 Mike Miller Patricia,
It is with a heavy heart that I send my deepest condolences. On the few occassions I had the opportunity to meet with Heidi, she impressed me with her forthright and honest opinion. I was very proud to show her picture in the Lookout to numerous folks who were surprised to learn that a Steward was involved in boarding operations.We have lost a fine sailor far too soon, and her service to her trade and her country will not soon be forgotten. Myself and the many members of the West Coast Steward family have you in our prayers, and are here for you when you need us.
Even though Heidi and me , did not see eye to eye on a lot of things, we still got along.. All the way from PRETC- CFB Esquimault. She liked to complain and so did I, But she was a great steward and friend, And she will be missed.
LS Mike Beauchamp.