GREEN, MARIE (NEE FITZPATRICK)
May 18, 1925 - September 29, 2014
On Monday, September 29th our sweet mom passed from this world to the next just after sunrise surrounded by family. She was 89.
She is survived by her five children Greg (Dani) Cowie, Susan (Yogi) Krehbiel, Steven (Sheila) Cowie, Charlotte Levell, and Marilyn (Glen Wood) Green; ten grandchildren; three step grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and five great step grandchildren. What a legacy! She is also survived by brother Hugh (Jacquie) Fitzpatrick and sister Kate (Gordon) Sladen. She was sadly predeceased by parents Bessie and Doc Fitzpatrick (co-founder of McLean and Fitzpatrick Packinghouse), sister Glenda, ex-husband Murray Cowie, and husband Walter Green.
Mom was born and raised in Rutland and trained as a Registered Nurse at the Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster BC. Mom had a 41 year career as an RN at Kelowna General Hospital in both the Maternity and Emergency wards. She was born to be a nurse, embodying grace, warmth, compassion and an innate ability to calm people in some of life’s most emotional circumstances. She loved her chosen career and thousands of people benefitted from her excellent care over the years.
Mom’s greatest joy came from her family though. We all say that we won the ‘Mom lottery’. She was quite simply the best mother and Nan in the world. Everything we have ever done in our lives has been made easier by her love and support.
Mom was full of life, positivity, and laughter. She met life’s many challenges with strength and optimism, and got up every day looking forward to enjoying what life had to offer. We have a lifetime of memories of our many family gatherings where laughter and love were always first on the menu.
Our family would like to thank the staff at Lakeview Lodge for their tremendous love and caring of mom in the last year of her life. Special thanks and love go to Mom’s honorary daughter, Shirley Fontaine, for being mom’s protective and loving caregiver for the past several years. Special thanks also go to our Aunt Kate for her love, wisdom and presence in this journey we have been on with mom, particularly during the last night of mom’s life.
We are heartbroken to have to say goodbye to our mom, but though she is gone from our sight, she remains forever in our hearts, and we are beyond grateful for the gift she was and is to us.
A celebration of Thanksgiving for mom’s life will be held on Saturday, October 11th at 4:00 pm at Springfield Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, mom would be pleased if you made a donation to the BC Children’s Hospital, the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, or to the charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com, 250-860-7077.