December 8, 1933 - March 7, 2023
It is with great sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear mother Sheila on March 7, 2023, in Nanaimo. She was 89 years old and incredibly feisty until she slipped away in the evening after her family had said their goodbyes.
Born in Victoria, B.C., to Austin and Julia Craven, she spent all of her life on Vancouver Island, in both Victoria and Nanaimo.
Mom and Dad met in the Palace Hotel in Nanaimo in 1954 when Dad ventured over to the "ladies' side", to meet Mom as well as her mother. They married on June 17, 1955, and had a wonderful, loving marriage until Dad's passing in 2020.
They were husband and wife, incredible parents, and each other's best friend. They were rarely apart as their bond was so strong.
They had three daughters who were loved and were raised to be good, honourable people, and they instilled in us how to be respectful, hard-working, and loving.
Family gatherings, special dinners, and wonderful Christmas memories will never be forgotten. Family vacations of camping and spending time at Shack Island were followed by skiing, fishing, and golfing when they became empty-nesters.
They loved to travel and went to Hawaii, Eastern Canada, Montréal, and California, as well as many visits to Hudson's Hope to visit with their daughter and grandchildren.
Mom had many jobs outside the home during her life, most notably at the Unemployment Commission Office as well as at The Bank of British Columbia (now HSBC). She had a reputation as the social organizer and such a fun-loving person, always had a smile on her face, was loved by her customers, and was someone who could get away with things that others could not!
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Colin McArthur, who passed away on January 4, 2020. She was also predeceased by her eldest grandson Eric Heiberg, as well as parents Austin and Julia Craven, sisters Madeline and Kathleen, and brother Austin.
She was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend to so many. She was very well-loved for her spontaneity and sense of humour and amazing zest for life. She was always so incredibly upbeat and eager to try out many varied pursuits.
Mom spent the remainder of her years living happily at Lakeside Gardens in Nanaimo. She enjoyed her time there and made several good friends during her time there.
She leaves behind her three loving daughters Laurinda Heiberg (Dave), Valerie McKay (Dale), and Julia. She also leaves five grandchildren Christopher (Sadie), Brent, Meghan (Felix), Forbes, and James (Michelle) as well as nine great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Dr. Nic Schulson for providing mom with years of medical care, her many friends who supported her after dad's passing, and the staff and residents at Lakeside Gardens in Nanaimo who treated her with such love and care.
We are happy that Mom and Dad are together again.