Obituaries

MAW, Viva Lorraine

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of Viva Maw, mother, granny, great granny, sister in law, aunt, and friend to many on May 14, 2022 in Armstrong at the age of 86 years old.

Mom was born to Alva & Lillian McGhee in Vernon on July 27, 1935. She grew up in Vernon with her younger brother David. Mom enjoyed a lot of activities as a young girl such as swimming, going to movies, skating and roller skating which she loved to do with her best friend Amy Picou, her long-time friend to present! Mom was quite young when she got her first job at Muir’s Cartage which is now Rocky Mountain Transport in Vernon, she worked there for 8 years. Then one day on a visit to Armstrong, mom was introduced to dad Glen and it was love at first sight! Mom and Dad were married Sept. 20/1958 in Vernon and settled on their farm in Armstrong where they raised their 3 boys.

She was a stay at home mom where she loved being active with her family and working in her garden. She spent many years canning and freezing produce from her garden and had a full deep freeze to prove it! Mom was remembered by her puffed wheat cakes for Halloween treats and her popular Gingerbread people for Christmas! She was an active member for the Armstrong Legion, the Armstrong Fish & Game Association and during the week of IPE you would find her helping out at the United Church booth!

Mom really enjoyed her bus trips with girlfriends to operas, sightseeing and to Stanley Park while dad was on his hunting trips. She and dad would make trips to Delta & Seattle to see family and a special trip where they drove up to Alaska which they thoroughly enjoyed. They also enjoyed their A&W coffee visits several times a week with treasured friends. But most of all she loved family gatherings with her children and grandchildren where family was the world to her. She was a genuine lady with a HUGE heart of gold and loved life!

Mom & Dad resided at their farm in Armstrong until 2018 then sold their farm to Grandson Harley and moved to Heaton Place where they resided until March 2021, then due to health reasons they both moved into Pleasant Valley Manor until present.

Mom is survived by her son William (Leanne) and their children Jason, Harley, Angela (Paul), Meaghan and 8 great grandchildren. Son David and his family. Sister in law Margaret Duguay in Seattle WA, nieces and nephews and a very dear friend Amy Picou.

She was predeceased by her loving husband and best friend Glen in 2021, son Gordon, Brother David and her parents.

We would like to thank Dr. Viljoen for his care and to the amazing staff at Pleasant Valley Manor for the outstanding loving and compassionate care you gave mom while she resided there. She truly loved living there and all of the staff!

“To the world you are a mother, to our family you are the World.” Until we meet again mom, We LOVE YOU Always and Forever!

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services (2980 Smith Drive, Armstrong). Burial will follow at Armstrong/ Spallumcheen Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Viva’s honor to the Heart & Stroke Foundation (310-2540 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2A9).

Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.MyAlternatives.ca.