Tuesday, November 11, 2014

RIP Gwen O'Dowd

It is with sadness I announce the death of my mother-in-law Gwen yesterday,  November 10 2014.

I was 15 when I met my husband,  36 years ago. As a young mother,  Gwen and I spent a lot of time together,  much like Kaitlyn and I do today. She was always happy to care for the children for a few hours or a day and we would do our grocery shopping together for many years. She was always happy to come to the children's special events and hosted our family Christmas every year.

As my family grew up and my life was filled by work and more, and she and Robin enjoyed their retirement years together,  we spent much less time together - despite only living a few streets apart. These past few years her health issues took away some of her joy, but seeing Kaitlyn marry and become a mother gave light to her darker days.

Gwen spent the final hours of life with her family in attendance, right down to 18mo, Charlie.  She passed peacefully as pulmonary oedema took her quietly.

She was my other mother and a wonderful role model and will be greatly missed.