November 23, 1926 - April 9, 2022
It is with heavy hearts that the family announces the passing of our mother Denise Naylor. She passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family at the age of 95.
Predeceased by her husband George Naylor, Father William James Castley, Mother Clara Bernice Castley, Sisters Hazel Campbell, Clara Harris, Helen Castley, Lorna Mainguy and Brother Colin Castley.
Leaving behind to mourn are her children Chris Naylor, Lisa Barker (Scott), Glen Naylor (Debbie) Todd Naylor, her Grandchildren Dylan and Chloe and Great Grandchildren Jamie and Lily, Nephew Malcolm Campbell (Marg) and Niece Diana McMahen (John).
Grieving her loss also is close family friend Emilio Clozza.
Denise was born in Duncan into the pioneering Castley family and lived all her live in the Cowichan Valley. The youngest child in her family she reaped the benefits and attention of older siblings.
She excelled in school and developed a love of literature, music and the arts. Her first job was working at Garners and went on to be a printer's devil at the Cowichan Leader. She married George Naylor in 1952 and settled to raise her family.
Denise was an amazing homemaker and mother. She loved to spend time with her children and there was nothing better she'd rather do on a sunny summer day than to pack up the kids and a picnic lunch and head to the River or Maple Bay for the day. Camping trips to Hornby Island and Long Beach were legendary.
At home she loved to be outdoors and spent many an hour in her garden or walking her dogs. She was involved in several art groups and was a talented at painting water colour landscapes of local vistas. She loved music and was involved in choir.
After the children grew up she returned to working in the newspaper field with positions at the Times Colonist Duncan branch and the Cowichan Citizen. Her years of working with the written word made her a formidable Scrabble player. Even into her 95th year she was unbeatable at the nightly games of cut-throat Scrabble.
She was a beautiful, energetic, sensitive, artistic, witty, loving, loyal, strong woman who is going to be so deeply missed.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.