Eileen Rebecca Clare
August 22, 1932 - December 17, 2015
With flowers in her flower pots and her marmalade cat “Tyke” curled up by her side, our beautiful mother Eileen Rebecca Clare (nee Dickson) passed away on December 17th, 2015. Mom left this world with the same elegance, grace and wonderful sense of humour in which she lived. On her night table was her trusty lipstick, fragrance and of course... softly scented hand cream. Cancer may have taken her body, but with certainty we know the Lord took her soul to be with her favourite fellow, our Dad, Judge Lorne Clare in Heaven. Mom and Dad were married for 54 delightful years and each other’s best friends always. Mom hoped Dad would do some “explaining” before she showed up in Heaven. We think his courtroom skills may have come in handy!
Mom and Dad met in the New Westminster courthouse where mom worked as a court stenographer and Dad was articling in Law. She knew when she saw his hands that those were to be the hands of the man she would love for a lifetime. She was indeed correct, as was true with most of her hunches. Eileen leaves behind her two daughters Kelly Rebecca Selkirk (Ed), and Patricia Dawne Clare (Peter), grandsons Brady, Alex and Neal. She also leaves behind her sister Wilma Foster (Gordon) and her brother James Dickson (Darlene). Eileen was pre-deceased by her beloved brother Bob Dickson, whom she daily honored by speaking of his spirit and great sense of humour. Eileen spent most of her young years with her family in Surrey and New Westminster and had many treasured memories both at their cabin in White Rock and our many happy years as a family in our home in Crescent Beach. Mom was the best fisherman in our family (don’t tell Dad) and we loved our years up in Loon Lake trolling along and singing “It’s A Long Way To Tipperary!”capped off by a rousing version of “You Are My Sunshine”. Eileen was devoted to her many years of Sisterhood in Chapter “B” of P.E.O. and enjoyed so many long lasting friendships within this group. She was a volunteer for Cross Roads Hospice Society in Coquitlam and also for Woodlands Hospital in New Westminster. Our Mom became a cosmetician and cosmetic representative and took her talents with beauty to the retail departments. She had a way of making people see beauty in all the little elegances of life that are sometimes overlooked. We now know the importance of good stationery and cashmere gloves as “must haves” not “must saves.” And for heaven’s sake ladies…get your eyebrows on first thing in the morning so that the world can take you seriously! Mom adored her book club and thought it was the best one because even when she didn’t get to reading the book, they still said she could come as an honorary member if she brought a good appetizer! Eileen was an amazing entertainer. She made a home that you came to when you had something to celebrate, and a home you came to if you were in grief. With each emotion, she knew how to receive you and with her practical wisdom and kindness. As her daughters, here are a few of the many important things she taught us:
1)Have faith! God has a plan even when you think He is dropping the ball. Trust!
2)Love your family and put it before all others.
3)All animals need a song with their name in it.
4)Love your man and for Heaven’s sake get some lipstick on before he gets home from work and get a comb through your hair. If you don’t like the looks of yourself, neither will he.
5)If you don’t know what the recipe needs, it is probably sugar!
6)If you feel your life is out of balance and at times chaotic, make soup or bake bread. It calms a household.
7)Choose not to be offended. Life is full of offenders. They have nothing to do with your well-being unless you give them permission to.
Toni Morrison the poet, once wrote that love is best shown if your “eyes light up when your loved one enters the room” As her family and friends know, we must have all been loved so very much. Our mother stopped everything to receive us, no matter where she was or what she was doing. In honour of our Mother, please do a kind favour for someone you don’t know. She was the inventor of Random Acts of Kindness, so we ask that you do something thoughtful and unexpected today for another.
We would like to thank Dr. Vandonkersgoed for his wonderful care and the Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner for giving our family a beautiful place to come together to be with Mom in both dignity and peace. As she said when we came through the doors “This is like a miracle!” It was for all of us at such a chaotic time. Angels are all around us... thank you Mom for teaching us to see their wings!
Service will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 2p.m. at St. Mark’s Ocean Park Anglican Church, 12953-20th Ave., Surrey, BC.