Esther Louise Louise Moore McMullan

Esther Louise McMullan was known as many things to many people. She was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew her best, Louise will be remembered as a very exceptional person.

      Louise was born on August 9, 1949 at City and County Hospital in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. She was the daughter of Joseph (Joe) and Rebecca (Ruby) Moore. Louise grew up in Lower Molenan & Nixon's Corner, Londonderry.

      Louise was raised with five siblings. She had one older sister, Heather, one younger brother, Raymond and three younger sisters, Hilary, Vivienne and Sandra. Louise was usually involved in all sorts of activities with her siblings.

      As a young girl, Louise had a number of interests. Like most children, she enjoyed playing and making up games. In her spare time she liked sewing, dancing, playing rounders and perfecting her hairdo's. However, to Louise, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her friends and family.

     She enjoyed school however due to hearing loss she missed some class time. She overcame these struggles and graduated from Templemore Intermediate School in 1964.

      Always considered a good friend to those she knew, Louise enjoyed a broad group of acquaintances and several very close friends during her lifetime. While growing up, some of her best friends were Kathleen Faulkner (nee Doherty), Evelyen McCready and Lorraine & Anne Rolsten. Later in life, she became friends with Bernice Champigny, Marg McIvor, Diane Price, Francis Mack, Kathy Pendleton, Sandra Wallace and Donna Ringer.

      On September 20, 1969 Louise exchanged wedding vows with Hedley William McMullan at Killea Parish Church of Ireland, County Donegal. Louise worked hard to be a good wife and then a mother to her children, two daughters, Julie and Joanne. Another blessing for Louise was the gift of four grandchildren, Joel, Jessica, Cassidy and Paige.

      Fortunately, Louise enjoyed what she did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Louise worked diligently and did her best to succeed in her career. Her primary occupation was a Patient Care Aid. She was employed for 15 years at Chilliwack General Hospital. Louise always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

      Louise enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were playing cards and games, playing darts, sewing, baking, dancing and watching game shows and her soaps. She was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Louise found pleasure in sports. She played darts and enjoyed watching Hedley in his dart tournaments. She was also a common fixture at her grandchildren's activities whether it was in a cold ice rink, a rainy soccer field, a sunny baseball park or a loud gymnastics facility.

      Throughout her later years, Louise was an active member of the local Legion and local dart club.

      Louise’s faith was important to her. She was a member at Killea Parish Church of Ireland. During that time, she was a Sunday School teacher.

      Louise enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. It was a chance for her to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things. Favorite vacations included going home to Ireland, Reno, Alaskan Cruise, PEI and Nova Scotia.

      Louise was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. She grew up with a family dog and passed on that tradition to her own kids. The last three years, she had Emma, a Shih- tzu.

      When Louise’s retirement finally arrived in 2005, she was well prepared. In retirement, she found new pleasure in being Nana's taxi for her four grandchildren, playing online poker, relaxing on her deck and watching reality TV. Even in retirement, Louise continued to stay in touch with her old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances.

      Louise passed away on April 27, 2013 at Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey, BC. Louise was hospitalized March 11, 2013 and treated for pneumonia. She had rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune disease which caused lung issues. While in the hospital, she contracted an infection and while she fought hard, she wasn't able to recover. She is survived by her husband, Hedley; daughters, Julie (John), Joanne (Clayton) and her grandchildren Joel, Jessica, Cassidy and Paige; her sisters Heather (Ken), Hilary (Thomas), Vivienne (Joe), Sandra along with Aunts, Uncles and many nieces and nephews. Services were held at Woodlawn Mt. Cheam Funeral Home and Louise was laid to rest in Vedder View Cemetery in Chilliwack, BC.

      Simply stated, Louise was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Louise leaves behind her a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Esther Louise McMullan.

OBITUARY:

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Loving Wife, Dedicated Mom, Cherished Sister and Best Nana ever, Esther “Louise” McMullan who went to heaven on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the too early age of 63 years.

Louise was born on August 9, 1949 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland where she was raised with her four sisters and one brother. She met her future husband at the age of 16 on a blind date. Hedley & Louise dated for 4 years and were married on September 20, 1969. They resided in Londonderry where they started their own family and Louise worked at a shirt factory before they moved to Strabane where she got a job in a nylon factory.

In 1975, at the age of 26, Louise & Hedley packed up their two little girls to immigrate to Chilliwack, BC, Canada where they made their home for the rest of her days and where her family remains. Louise did housekeeping until she started working at Chilliwack General Hospital as a Patient Care Aid for 16 years until she retired early.

Louise will be deeply missed by her husband of 43 years, Hedley and their two daughters, Julie (John) and Joanne (Clayton), her four grandkids, Joel, Jessica, Cassidy & Paige, her sisters Heather (Ken), Hilary (Tommy), Vivienne (Joe), Sandra, many nieces, nephews and other family and friends. Louise was sadly predeceased by her parents, Joe & Ruby Moore and her precious brother, Raymond.

Her favorite pastime was taking care of and spending time with her 4 treasured grandchildren. She played endless games of cards, checkers, snakes & ladders and never let them win as she always thought it was best to teach them a lesson. Nana’s taxi went all over the place and she was a constant at their schools and sport events. Mom hosted weekly Tuesday night dinners for us as her family was everything to her. Outside of family, Louise loved playing darts, playing poker on the computer, watching her soap operas and enjoyed reality shows like Dancing with the Stars and the Bachelor. Any time spent with family and friends made Louise’s day and she valued each and every one who was lucky enough to know her. Louise was so kind hearted and caring.

They don’t make them like her anymore, she was an amazing woman who can never be replaced or forgotten but will live on and around us forever.

A Memorial Service with reception will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013 at Woodlawn Mt. Cheam Funeral Home, 45865 Hocking Ave, Chilliwack; Angus Haggerty officiating. Special thanks to the dedicated and caring ICU nurses and doctors at Surrey Memorial Hospital and also those who took care of her during her short stay at Chilliwack Hospital. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Louise McMullan’s name to the BC Lung Association, PO Box 34009 Stn D, Vancouver, BC V6J 9Z9.

EULOGY:

How do you begin to tell the life story of an amazing woman who while only got to spend 63 years with us, spent every moment of those 63 years making sure her family and friends knew how much they meant to her.

We are left here without our dear mom, wife, sister, aunt & friend but will forever remember her glowing smile. It’s hard to recall a time when mom wasn’t smiling or laughing. She lit up a room with her big brown eyes.

Mom’s favorite color was yellow or as she called it, “lemon”. This is evident in their home with painted yellow walls in the living room and the kitchen having yellow accents throughout.

Up until 5 or 10 years ago, mom didn’t own a single pair of jeans. Always one to be dressed up and have bling on, she would never even venture to the grocery store without being properly dressed or have her lipstick on.

Dad, who doesn’t call his family members by their given names, called mom “shorty”. Yes, she was only 4’11” but her height was the only thing short about her. Her kindness, her support, her willingness to do anything for anyone and her unconditional love for us all was beyond measurement.

When dad met mom, she was a Sunday school teacher in County Donegal. During her childhood, she attended the Presbyterian Church and always understood and believed in the presence and power of god. Mom carried the “footprints” poem in her wallet so we thought it fitting to be included in the service card and we ourselves know that god is carrying us right now.

Mom grew up in a 3-bedroom house with her parents, Joe and Ruby Moore, her four sisters Heather, Hilary, Vivienne & Sandra and their only brother Raymond. No one had a lot in those days but these six kids shared unconditional bonds with each other that will live on in memories forever. Homes were heated by radiators which you’d really have to be laying on top of to feel the heat so instead they would warm up bricks on top of the wood stove and wrap them in towels to take them to bed. I’d say by today’s standards that would be a little bit of a fire hazard. It must be something that really soothed them though because mom’s sisters still take hot-water bottles to bed with them!

Heather remembers her, mom and Raymond (being the three oldest) taking turns having sleepover weekends at their Granny Moore’s. And that each school year there was one day a year called “children’s day” and for that day granny always made sure she bought them special outfits. Hilary remembers piercing moms ears with ice cubes and a needle and Sandra remembers mom piercing Sandra’s ears the same way and happily wears those pierced holes still today.

Mom had a fear of water that stemmed back to her early childhood, not for any traumatic reason, simply because she didn’t know how to swim. Funny though that this non-hereditary trait is shared among all her sisters! Although she had a fear of water, we had an above-ground 4-foot pool and she was

always scared of falling off the floating mattress although we’d explain all she’d have to do is stand up!

Boy did Mom like to dance. From her early teen years, going to dances to dance the night away was one of her favourite things to do. Albeit, the night always had to end before the dance was over because she had to catch the 11pm bus home. Mom would go up to Granny Coles house to scrub the kitchen chairs which would earn her “half a crown” which was the equivalent of a quarter. That 25 cents would get her to the Saturday night dance and was well worth the scrubbing. Every Saturday night, when Mom was about 16, she would get herself ready which meant standing in front of the mirror and using a whole bottle of hairspray. And each time she would turn to her Mom and say “Mom, am i nicer than heather tonight?” And Nana of course would say “yes”!

One particular saturday night dance when Mom was 16 years old, a neighbor of Mom’s was dating a guy from Sion Mills (about 20 miles away from where mom lived in Londonderry) and that neighbors boyfriend had asked a young man he worked with to come to the dance to meet someone on a blind date … that date was the beginning of our parents story. They danced, fell in love and two years later got engaged at Portrush, a seaside resort. Mom was 18 years old when dad proposed and one month after she turned 20 on September 20th, 1969 they were married and Esther Louise Moore became Esther Louise McMullan.

They started their own family 2 years later when their first daughter Julie Rebecca was born on May 13th, 1971. Then another 2 years later they completed their family when Joanne Elaine Elizabeth was born on December 22, 1973.

Eighteen months later on June 25, 1975, they packed up their two little girls aged 1 ½ and 4 and we immigrated from Londonderry, Northern Ireland directly to Chilliwack, BC. If you’re wondering why Chilliwack, well we have Auntie Heather & Uncle Ken Johnston to thank for that. Mom wanted to follow heather after they came over here in 1974 upon them following 4 of Ken’s brothers who had first arrived. Dad had to promise Mom that if she didn’t like it after 2 years that he’d take us back. I guess it’s evident that she liked it here.

Mom’s beloved brother Raymond then came after us in 1978. Uncle Raymond moved in and lived with us for 5 years. We had many good times with our extended Johnston family & friends which included many Friday night card games and Saturday afternoon water fights.

Speaking of water, a number of years ago at Dinotown, Julie, Joel & Jess were in one boat and had paddled their way around the short route. Mom, Natalie and Helbeen were in another boat. Julie stood waiting wondering where mom’s boat had gone and the next thing she saw was the three of them walking up over the hill, totally soaked from head to toe and mom had only one shoe. Apparently Mom wanted out of the boat so they paddled over to the side and with one foot on land and one inside the boat, sploosh, the boat and the 2-feet of water won that battle and ended their Dinotown fun day.

As daughters of Louise & Hedley we truly hit the jackpot. We had a wonderful upbringing filled with happy times, support, built-in cheerleaders, encouragement, love, traditions, proudness, hugs, kisses, love and along with so much more had the pleasure of watching them dance the jive together many times. Mom & Dad took us on a lot of camping trips in the summer (in a good old fashioned camper on the back of the truck) and took us on ski trips in the winter. Our friends adored our parents as well and mom was everyone’s mom. She was a constant supporter of our sports and attended all school plays, concerts and sports days.

Mom always wanted us to look pretty so we were forever in nice dresses, mostly matching ones that she made herself as she was an excellent seamstress. While she liked having us in dresses all the time, she worried about us being cold so most of the time we’d have pants under our dresses and chances were the pants were a totally different color – it wasn’t about style, it was about keeping us safe and warm.

It wasn’t until we became mom’s ourselves that we finally realized and understood the inevitable constant worry and need to protect that comes with being a parent. Mom loved our birthdays, there was never a limit on how many kids could come to the party, the whole class was welcome. In our adult years, she never missed being the first one to call us on our birthdays and was never satisfied to just say happy birthday, she would always sing the song to us over the phone. Mom, on those two days when you brought us into the world, we were forever blessed. Your heart full of love for us is what shaped our lives and taught us how to be mom’s to your precious grandchildren.

Speaking of grandchildren, mom was overjoyed on March 25, 1997 when her first grandchild was born, Joel William Trinkaus, also known as “nana’s golden boy”. Mom loved watching Joel play hockey but was always concerned about him getting hurt. If Joel took a hit on the ice mom would be the first on her feet with her face full of worry and Julie would always have to tell her to sit down. Nana taught Joel to play the card game “31” when he was only 6 years old!

The second grandchild came on January 29, 2000 but wasn’t due to come until March 5th! Nana’s first grandaughter, Jessica Kennedy Trinkaus. Mom loved watching Jessica do gymnastics, she was always so impressed by what she could do. Nana and Jess enjoyed Friday night sleepovers together every weekend. Nothing beat sleeping at Nana’s house, partly because there were no rules and you could eat whatever you wanted to but mostly because it was time being spent with Nana!

Both Joel & Jess looked forward to their Nana picking them up from the bus afterschool and on Fridays that meant a stop at Mcdonald’s before taking them to their sport events.

The third grandchild, another grandaughter was born on September 29, 2004, Cassidy Louise beck. Mom was honored that Cassidy was named after her. Nana started teaching Cassidy how to sew and spent many hours reading stories to her with Cassidy’s favorite being about a little girl who didn’t like to brush her hair which was fittingly called “the bird’s nest”. Cassidy loved their walks to the park and getting fancy and blingy clothes for Christmas from Nana.

Nana’s fourth grandchild, another grandaughter was born on July 13, 2007, Paige Marjorie Beck. Nana always baked with Paige, many a dozen of “buns” also known as cupcakes were created in nana’s kitchen. Before Paige was in kindergarten her & Nana used to color before they’d have to pick up Cassidy after school.

Both Cassidy & Paige loved playing dress-up in Nana’s clothes, high heels, makeup, jewellery and of course her perfume! Nana would then pretty them up even more by painting their fingers and toes.

All 4 grandkids have played endless games of checkers, card games and snakes & ladders and always looked so forward to nana taking them to the milk maid for ice cream cones! A special memory for the three grandaughters is Nana taking each of them to get their ear pierced for the 5th birthdays.

Now for the son-in-laws, John and Clayton. John married into the McMullan family in 1994. He’s lucky he was allowed in after accidentally letting muffin the family dog out one day, we never saw her again. John got mom to ride a quad for the first time and proudly made her new kitchen cabinets. Clayton married into the family in 2002. He loved to push mom’s buttons in a fun way to see what type of reaction he could get out of her. Always asking her for foot rubs but

he only ever managed to get one because he planted his big feet right upon her lap not giving her much choice.

Jumping into a different era of Mom’s life, we wouldn’t be able to talk about her life and legacy without talking about darts. Prior to her joining the dart world, she sat on the sidelines watching Dad for 5 years but once mom started playing in 1995 she never looked back. She played in both the Fraser Valley East and Cultus Lake leagues and won medals at the senior games. Through the 2-mentioned leagues she formed many new lifelong friendships and quickly became known as “Weasie” to her near & dear darting community. Because she had the best of the best coaching her (also known as Dad), Mom set her sights on winning the overall championship John Adams Memorial trophy. This trophy was particularly special to Mom because her late brother Raymond’s team had won this for 3 straight years in 1982, 83 & 84 and she wanted her name on the same trophy as him. Success occurred as the 2011-2012 team known as the “Krunch Bunch” made up of Mom and Dad, Harry & Diane, Kevin, Jared and Travis made one of Mom’s wishes come true.

We’d now like to mention one word and that word is … donkeys. We are not sure what the fascination with donkeys is or where it came from but each trip back to Ireland provided a certainty of visits to see a donkey and many pictures have been taken over the years to prove it. Oddly enough on a roadtrip to Reno, Nevada they were going on a horseback ride however mom was too short or couldn’t get on the horses so guess what she rode … a donkey!

In addition to the numerous Reno roadtrips, mom travelled to many places within Canada keeping Dad company while he played darts. These places included Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and a great trip to Halifax where they drove through New Brunswick over the Confederation Bridge into Prince Edward Island then onto Cape Breton before taking the ferry back to New Brunswick and flying home to BC.

Outside of Canada, Mom travelled to Vegas where they saw “Joe Dolan and the Drifters” (an Irish showband), England, Scotland, Ireland of course many times, Maui Hawaii and most recently she enjoyed her very first cruise which took her and Dad to Alaska in celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary.

Some of Mom’s favorite things were marzipan bars from purdy’s, black magic chocolates, irish spring soap, butterflies, garden ornaments, flower planters, conversations with friends while enjoying tea & cookies and boy oh boy did mom love her mints! So, when you see these things or enjoy a cup of tea, please think of her.

Mom will be watching over all of us and will help guide us through our years without her. While our lives were forever changed on April 27 when we lost her, the lives of those living in heaven were copiously enriched on that day as they received the most cherished and loveliest of angels.

Mom, we will forever grieve for you. Our hearts ache with utter sadness and we will never again be whole. We promise to stay close to one another, take good care of Dad and think of you always. Thank you for all you were. You were unselfish and left a lasting impression on everyone you met. You were an amazing Wife, Mom, Sister, Nana and Friend and quite simply, we were the lucky ones.

Enjoy your reunion with your Brother, your Mom & your Dad and until you and Dad meet again, save him the last dance.

AN IRISH BLESSING

MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU,

MAY THE WIND BE ALWAYS AT YOUR BACK,

MAY THE SUN SHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE

AND THE RAINS FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS,

AND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,

MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND

* * * * * * * * * *

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Loving Wife, Dedicated Mom, Cherished Sister and Best Nana ever, Esther “Louise” McMullan who went to heaven on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the too early age of 63 years.

Louise was born on August 9, 1949 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland where she was raised with her four sisters and one brother. She met her future husband at the age of 16 on a blind date. Hedley & Louise dated for 4 years and were married on September 20, 1969. They resided in Londonderry where they started their own family and Louise worked at a shirt factory before they moved to Strabane where she got a job in a nylon factory.

In 1975, at the age of 26, Louise & Hedley packed up their two little girls to immigrate to Chilliwack, BC, Canada where they made their home for the rest of her days and where her family remains. Louise did housekeeping until she started working at Chilliwack General Hospital as a Patient Care Aid for 16 years until she retired early.

Louise will be deeply missed by her husband of 43 years, Hedley and their two daughters, Julie (John) and Joanne (Clayton), her four grandkids, Joel, Jessica, Cassidy & Paige, her sisters Heather (Ken), Hilary (Tommy), Vivienne (Joe), Sandra, many nieces, nephews and other family and friends. Louise was sadly predeceased by her parents, Joe & Ruby Moore and her precious brother, Raymond.

Her favorite pastime was taking care of and spending time with her 4 treasured grandchildren. She played endless games of cards, checkers, snakes & ladders and never let them win as she always thought it was best to teach them a lesson. Nana’s taxi went all over the place and she was a constant at their schools and sport events. Mom hosted weekly Tuesday night dinners for us as her family was everything to her. Outside of family, Louise loved playing darts, playing poker on the computer, watching her soap operas and enjoyed reality shows like Dancing with the Stars and the Bachelor. Any time spent with family and friends made Louise’s day and she valued each and every one who was lucky enough to know her. Louise was so kind hearted and caring. They don’t make them like her anymore, she was an amazing woman who can never be replaced or forgotten but will live on and around us forever.

A Memorial Service with reception will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013 at Woodlawn Mt. Cheam Funeral Home, 45865 Hocking Ave, Chilliwack; Angus Haggerty officiating. Special thanks to the dedicated and caring ICU nurses and doctors at Surrey Memorial Hospital and also those who took care of her during her short stay at Chilliwack Hospital. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Louise McMullan’s name to the BC Lung Association, PO Box 34009 Stn D, Vancouver, BC V6J 9Z9.