September 1, 1925 - March 16, 2022
Leona May (nee Lovestrom) Masuch passed peacefully in Cranbrook on March 16, 2022, after a great 96-year life. She was born September 1, 1925, in Creston, BC, to Leona (Pendry) and Anton Lovestrom.
May was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Fred, in 2011 and by siblings Agnes (Bill) Everitt, Albert "Bud" (Elma) Lovestrom, and Jim Lovestrom. She is survived by siblings Alice "Sis" MacDonald and Bob (Jean) Lovestrom, and by sisters-in-law Lorraine Lovestrom and Elaine Masuch. May will be greatly missed by her four children: Linda (George) Broster of Union Bay, Fred (Marg) of Lindell Beach, Kristine Masuch (Bill Dallas) of Nanoose Bay, and Gordon (Nicola) of Montrose; 8 grandchildren: Brett, Carrie (favourite outlaw Dean), Cristi (Brian), Jason (Erin), Steven (Gerald), Andrew (Chantal), Llewellyn, and Micah; and 7 great grandchildren: Rachel, Rylie, Colby, Garrett, Samuel, Oliver, and Westen. She will also be missed by many other extended family members and wonderful friends.
When Mom grew up in Creston, times were a bit tough, and Christmas for the kids was twenty-five cents to buy their own gift and a new home-sewn nightie for the girls. After high school, she joined the army at age 18 and worked in the mail department in Vancouver (during the day; nights were for dancing and socializing).
Mom spent a couple of years in a TB sanatorium (thank goodness without having any severe symptoms) after the war, then married Fred in 1948 and moved to Jaffray as Dad was working at the Galloway sawmill. Their first home in a rental cabin beside Little Sand Creek was so drafty you could see daylight between the boards. Dad built a house and they moved to Galloway in 1949 where they lived for 29 years. In 1978 they moved to a new house that Dad built near Rosen Lake. That home was a great place for family Christmases for another 29 years; then they downsized to a patio home in Cranbrook in 2007 when the winters were getting too tough at the acreage.
Mom loved life. She loved talking, and dancing, and holidays. She loved getting dressed up to try to win the costume prize at the Halloween dances (3-time winner!). She and Dad loved summer holidays in their various tents, trailers, and campers, accompanied by kids and grandkids, and relatives, and friends. Mom especially enjoyed the times when family was around, and her kids were talking and playing games and teasing each other.
She was a wonderful cook with a huge variety of recipes, and without doubt, made the best pies in the world. She would eat any food and try any cuisine as she and Dad traveled everywhere, including Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, Thailand, China, Italy, across Canada, and much of the US.
Mom and Dad did a great job of raising us kids, always trying to treat us equally (although clearly Fred was Mom's favourite) and giving us respect and support for our decisions. They were wonderful and really loving parents, who loved each other and their children fiercely.
We love you, Mom.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff at Joseph Creek Care Village (especially Sheila and Lise) for their gentle and wonderful care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Memories & condolences may be shared at www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com Arrangements entrusted to Cherished Memories Funeral Services Ltd.
Cherished Memories Funeral Services Ltd.