Edith Crombie Cooper Idle, was born in Tyldesly, Lancashire, England on May 18, 1920. She passed away at Talarico Place on April 18, 2017, just shy of her 97th birthday.
When Edith was five years old, she and her parents (Beatrice and Harold Crombie) came to Canada, settling in Trail, where she and her younger sister, Joyce, were raised. It was there that she met her first husband, Walter Cooper. Walter died in World War II, leaving Edith with their young daughter, Norma.
In 1946, Edith married Charles Idle and together with her daughter, Norma and Charles’ son, Don, they moved to Kinnaird (now part of Castlegar) where Charlie built their house along Columbia Avenue. When Harold, Dennis, Tom and Paul came along, they had a family of six, active children to fill the two storey house. Edith excelled at everything in the way of caring for her family. Her baking and cooking skills are legendary. Edith and Charlie stayed in Castlegar until 1973, when they moved first to Christina Lake and then Grand Forks, only to return to Castlegar years later.
After Charlie died, Edith lived at Stellar Place and Castlewood Village, before making her home at Talarico Place.
Edith was predeceased by two sons in their infancy and her son, Don. She is survived by her sister, Joyce Chiasson, her daughter, Norma Bewley (Joe) and sons Harold, Dennis (Nadean), Tom (Joyce) and Paul (Marilyn) and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson.
Edith’s beautiful smile and her sense of wit will be remembered by us all. May she rest in peace.
Thank you to the staff at Talarico Place for your care and compassion through the years and especially, during Edith’s last week. A thank you also goes out to Dr. Lisa Vasil for her care during a tough week and to Dr. Keith Merritt for his thoughtfulness as he cared for Edith through her journey of aging. Your kindness will not be forgotten.
There is no funeral at Edith’s request. A family gathering will be held at a later date.