Isobel Cameron

Isobel Sarah Jolly Cameron

15 January 1921 – 8 April 2021

Family and Friends,

Mum, Issie, Isso, Aunt Is, Jolly, she had many names! All of you shared memories by sending 100th birthday stories and pictures. We are grateful to you for sharing them with us. We want to share a few of our own memories of Mum so here are some of ours:

We remember Mum as a woman who loved playing bridge, travelling the world, enjoying a gin and tonic (and making her own sherry), driving us back to Ottawa from B-Say-Tah after many wonderful summers, loaded down with a trailer and various cats, supervising Dad who, not surprisingly, developed selective hearing, adopting many cats over her years (most we had at one time was 5!), spending 3 seasons at Bob’s Lake and then the Clyde River.

At B-Say-Tah, she would go early morning fishing, returning with perch that Grandma would filet and fry on the wood stove. A delicious breakfast! Mum loved to swim and her crawl was effortless.

Gardening was huge in Mum’s life. Starting in Fort Simpson and continuing with each home she established. She passed on her love of gardening to her daughters.

She loved moving!! Was a whiz at packing. We counted one time and she has moved at least 19 times over the course of her life (**figure updated below).

She held her nursing friends close. To them she was called Jolly.

Mum went to work when Dad retired. She found her calling with temporary work. Bosses loved her and really appreciated her diligence. Mum enjoyed flitting from assignment to assignment.

We remember both Mum and Dad opening up our home, particularly on Courtney, to a lot of our friends, whether skiing, rowing, or other friends, they slept anywhere, including our furnace room!

Mum LOVED game shows, particularly Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, watched without fail! She would be bereft to know about Alex’s passing. She also LOVED her outings to the casino. She had her own gold card and was thrilled when the nickel machines returned big!

Mum was always generous, and we remember one time Dad saying she’d give away the home because of her generosity to everyone.

Mum supported us in many ways, particularly in our sport endeavours, by coming to our rowing races in St. Catharines, meeting us at Canadian Ski Marathon check points with energising snacks like Mars bars, and driving us to ski races. We got our athletic ability from both parents and also their drive, determination, and focus.

Mum loved volunteering, whether with the CSM or the Good Companions doing birthday greetings.

She was an early adopter of computers and she loved the Internet! And keeping in touch with friends and family using email.

She was the consummate coupon clipper, driving round the city for deals.

Mum’s last move was into New Orchard Lodge, February 2016, and we cannot say enough about the care and the love staff provided. They are remarkable care givers.

But! Even at NOL Mum continued her love for moving! By Trice’s count she changed rooms 6 times bringing her lifetime moves to 25.

To honour Mum’s life and interests, we are making contributions to The Good Companions , Fletcher Wildlife Garden , and Kibble4Paws .

Next year we plan one last adventure with Mum when we scatter her ashes in the Qu’Appelle Valley.

Mum had a varied and full life and she was a good Mother. Please join us in raising a glass of sherry or a gin and tonic to all our Mums!

Trice and Bev and Ian