Jennifer Ditchburn
We are devastated to make known the passing of our Mom, Jennifer Elizabeth Ditchburn; devoted wife, beloved mother, and adoring grandmother.
Born on 30 July 1958 to our Nana and Papa, Murray Dougal Locke and Bernice Anne Locke nee Brown, she delighted her big sister Barbara, was joined all too briefly by her brother Andrew, and was then usurped as the youngest by her littlest (in age) brother Peter. She was taken all too soon from her soulmate, life-partner, friend and greatest supporter Arthur, with whom 32 years of marriage wasn’t enough, not by any measure. Together they raised a brood, pursued their entrepreneurial dreams as business owners, achieved shared goals of higher education, and served as the foundation that kept our home strong against all life could throw at them. Her values, love, and commitment to family are cherished and preserved in the 7 lights she brought into the world, her children Brandon, Brittany, Bryson, Mckenzie, Alyssa, Emily and Simon.
We cry to the night sky that she would return to us, to do or say the thing to us that made us feel special, as individuals in the pack. The maternal center of our familial system, she sought to fan something special in each of her children. She supported us as we managed multiple moves across the country, cared for our exceptionally diverse interests and gave us the courage to take leaps of faith in pursuit of our dreams.
We will miss how she lit up when playing games with us, individually or all together; Skip-Bo, dice, cribbage, Monopoly, “Don’t Get Mad”, and yes, scandalously, Cards Against Humanity. She loved us to the moon and back and more; she wished and willed for us to be happy, that we would brighten her world as she had sheltered ours. Even with 18 years between the youngest and oldest, she still had more love and affection to give; she hosted international high school students for more than a decade, hailing from Japan, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, and more. She doted upon and was attentive to each of her precious grandbabies, Breanna, Jacob, Mathew, Logan, Carrington, Kaiya, Dallas, and Emilia. Each branch in the family tree she had helped to shape was priceless beyond measure; she expressed her love and put a piece of herself into each item knit, stitched, crocheted and hand-made for new additions to the family. After more than 30 years of babies, toddlers, kids, teens, adults and parents, her and her soulmate Arthur were able to pursue their shared dreams in well-earned retirement.
The children had flown the nest, and they were now set to follow Nana and Papa as globe-cruising snowbirds. They discovered and fell in love with Costa Rica, purchasing a home there to escape the Canadian winter. That it enabled her to wear all the pretty dresses she wanted was totally besides the point. It was a little piece of paradise for the happy couple to enjoy each others company, to live the day their way with joy, to simply be and enjoy rich red sun retreat below the horizon. Cruising was to be their means to explore the world, with plans and ambitions and hopes for their children and grandchildren and more to join them on adventures and discoveries, making memories to last a lifetime, to help keep the time until we could see each other again.
Now we shall be carried by the tide of time, ever forward, with love in our hearts and steadfast promises to honour her tree of life. May you be forever cruising Mom, we love you to the moon and back.
A visitation will be held at Hillside Funeral Services, 362 Airport Rd, on Friday April 18th from 10 am until 1 pm. A celebration of her life will follow at 1 pm.
Online condolences can be made at www.hillsidefuneral.ca
Hillside Funeral Services Ltd.
