CHRISTINA BERNADETTE SHENNAN
(NEE CALLIHOO)
May 29, 1924 - 2013 June 27, 2013
Mom died peacefully in her sleep at Hospice House in
Kelowna, BC on Thursday,
June 27th. She had cancer
and had recently turned 89.
She had a good sense of
humour and told me: "I want
you to make sure I'm really gone when I die, I don't want any surprises." Mom was a lady of faith and was looking
forward to her next journey. She grew up on the Michel
Reserve north west of Edmonton and married dad, William Shennan, June 20, 1946. They had one son, me, Wesley Shennan, and later, one grandson, Waylon Shennan, (his partner, Rejoice Apedoe). Mom had one sister Elizabeth Gerlat, (her partner, Jim Kam); two nieces and two
nephews; and four grand nephews and three grand nieces. Gramma, Lottie Callihoo; Grampa, Solomon Callihoo; a brother Charlie and sister Camilla in their preteens; and dad, died before her. Mom made her money as a seamstress, working for various businesses in Edmonton and Kelowna, but her heart was in playing guitar and piano and doing a
little singing. Mostly, she accompanied old time fiddlers
at competitions throughout BC, but did travel as far as
Manitoba. She told me she was accompanist at the
Kamloops Old Time Fiddlers contest for 20 years in a
row; won many awards; and I know there are a host of
accomplished fiddlers today who remember mom when
they were youngsters. Mom also played blue grass
and liked to attend the Saturday jams in Peachland.
A celebration of life was held for mom at Holiday Park
Resort July 4, 2013. The Old Time Fiddlers played. You
can make a donation to the BC Cancer Foundation if you choose.