Cecelia Catherine Wright
May 19, 1933 - November 21, 2010
It is with profound sadness that we announce that Cec passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of November 21, 2010 at Talarico Place, after a 7 year battle with complications from Diabetes,
Cec was born Iona Vernica Venne on May 19, 1933 believably in Shaunavan, Saskatchewan. At 3 months of age she was adopted by John and Alta Mae Timmons of Moose Jaw, Sask. at which time her name was changed to Cecelia Catherine. Her father tragically died in 1941 and her mother suffered a total nervous breakdown 4 years later. Cec then lived with her aunt and uncle, Vera and Clarence Piece, and her four cousins in Moose Jaw. Because of those circumstances, she always hated to be alone which contributed to her extrovert personality. She was happiest in the company of others. She received all of her schooling in Moose Jaw, except for the final two years in Regina.
Cec married Robert (Bob) Davy of Moose Jaw in 1950 and they had three children. During this marriage, she was a stay-at-home wife and mother. They were divorced in 1954, after which time a fouth child was born. In 1956, she met Robert (Bob) Wright of MacGregor, Manitoba while on temporary assignment in Moose Jaw. They were married in Moose Jaw on July 25, 1956. At the time, she was working as a lifeguard at river Park, , a dispatcher at Grant Hall Taxi, a part-time grocery clerk and periodically a waitress. Bob worked in construction and was transferred to Shilo. Manitoba in September 1956 and they moved to Brandon, Manitoba where their first daughter was born a year later. Following this move, Cec once again reverted to becoming a loving and caring stay-at-home wife and mother. Bob's work on numerous projects took the family to several locations throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia where three more daughters were born. This nomadic lifestyle was a cultural shock to Cec because she had only been outside of Saskatchewan once when she was 12 years old. She adapted to construction life very well and came to enjoy it. Ultimately in July 1965, the family moved to Castlegar where Bob worked on the Arrow (Keenleyside) Dam until September 1968, when once again the family moved to another dam project at Gillam in Northern Manitoba. But a year later, Bob accepted a position on a hydro-electric job on Vancouver Island. The family moved to Sooke, but Cec did not like the Island job and in July 1970 she and the girls moved back to Castlegar, while Bob remained at Jordan river. Following his return in March 1972, Bob worked on several local dams, including Kootenay Canal, Seven Mile Dam, and Revelstoke Dam which enabled Cec to live out the last 40 years in Castlegar until her untimely passing. Cec enjoyed living in Castlegar and developed many close friendships, although at times she pined for the wide open prairies of Saskatchewan. During the 1970's and early 1980's, she periodically worked as a waitress at the Hi Arrow Arms Hotel and Fireside Place, which were co-owned by her closest friends Newt and Marilyn Smith.
At a very early age, her father enrolled Cec in swimming lessons and dancing lessons. Thereafter, her two main passions were swimming and dancing. She often volunteered to assist with swimming lessons or to choreograph school dance recitals, particularly in the remote communities where we lived. Cec had an extrovert personality and loved to socialize with other people and always enjoyed dances and other social functions. She often volunteered to help organize these functions. She was generous to a fault with her time and loved to help others. She was not musically inclined but she loved music especially from the 1940's. Cec enjoyed shopping and one thing she particular liked about Castlegar was the close proximity to Spokane and Colville. She often went on shopping excursions across the border with close friends and family. In earlier years she participated in many sports, including softball, curling, golf and bowling. She also enjoyed fishing and hunting. she disliked gardening because she couldn't stand getting dirt under her long manicured fingernails. Around 1980, she discovered Bingo which became her main passion. She became a regular at the weekly Bingos at the Legion and Passmore where she developed a camaraderie of friends that always sat together. She always looked forward to these outings.
Cec was predeceased by her father John Timmons in 1941., her mother Alta Mae Timmons in 1969, her Auntie Vera and Uncle Clarence and three of her cousins, Valerie, Wayne and Lloyd , her favorite brother-in-law Graeme in 1962, three sister-in-laws, Noreen in 1995, Beverly in 2003, Valery in 2010, and many of her Bingo buddies and other friends. In 1996, her closest friend Marilyn Smith, unexpectedly passed away which deeply upset her.
From her first marriage she is survived by, daughter Darla (Joe) Denata of Downesview, Ont.; son Les (Frances) Davy, grandsons Cheyenne and Cody and 2 great-grandchildren of Wardner, B.C.; daughter Marla Walters of White Rock, B.C.; and son David Bruce Timmons whereabouts unknown. From her second marriage she is lovingly remembered by her loving husband of 54 years Bob Wright and daughter, Rhonda (John) Jackman, granddaughter Roxie Riley (Wayne Postnikoff) and great-grandchildren Syerra and Nathan of Robson, B.C., grandson Ryan Riley and 2 great-grandchildren of Trail, B.C., and grandson James Riley of Kamloops, B.C., daughter Dana O'Brien (Jay Friedrich) of Castlegar, B.C., granddaughter Kyla O"Brien of Victoria, B. C., and grandson Paddy O'Brien of Fredricton, N.B.; daughter Tara (Richard) Wand of Comox, B.C.; daughter Carla (Mike) Boekestyn, granddaughter Christina and grandson Brandon of Morinville, Alberta; brother-in-laws Don (Carole) Wright of Saskatoon, Sask., sisters-in-law Marnie Wright of Winnipeg, Man. and Laurie Fredricksen of Calgary, Alta.; and many friends, especially our closest friend Newt Smith of Mill Bay, B.C.
May Cec forever rest in peace, free from pain and suffering and the Liberal government.
Cremation has already taken place and to honour Cec's wishes no service will be held. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Personal Alternatives and Castlegar Funeral Chapel who handled the arrangements for the cremation and all the paperwork. A vert special "Thank You" is extended to Dr. Vasil and the staff of Talarico Place for all the compassionate and attentive care provided to Cecelia over the last nine and one half months. Also, on behalf of Cec, a thank you is extended to Kerry, Bernice, Marie and all of the other Home Care workers that bathed her and attended to her needs twice weekly over the past 7 years. And last but not least, the family wishes to thank all the extended family and friends who expressed their sincere condolences.
This Obiturary may appear to be long and exhaustive, but Cec would have wanted all of those she loved and
all of those who were influential in her life to be acknowledged.