Michael Hawkes

Mike passed from this life peacefully in his room at Stanford Place on Saturday, February 12th, following a gradual decline in his health over many months and years.  He was 79 years of age.  

May he rest in the light and joy of God's peace.   

We ask your prayers and thanksgivings for Michael, and we ask your prayers for Jeanette, his surviving spouse after 56 years of marriage, and for Jeanette and Mike’s children Russell (Amanda) and Suzanne (Ian), granddaughter Chloe, and Michael’s sister Sharon, and brother Joel, and all the family near and far. 

If you wish, you may drop off a condolence card at the parish office, or send an email message to us for Jeanette, which we can pass on to the family.   

Mike and Jeanette moved to Parksville in 2006, and Mike has been a quietly caring, gentle, and warm presence in the community, a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, and an ever-supportive member of our parish.   

Mike worked for the Municipality of North Vancouver throughout his career, taking early retirement in part because of some of his health struggles.  Mike had suffered seizures from his early adult years, and this led to ongoing challenges during his working years which his employer and colleagues responded to supportively.  In particular, during his time in Parksville, he suffered with loss of cognitive and physical functioning in later years.   

We enjoyed having him as part of our Adult Day Program in the church hall before he eventually moved into care, and we remember his for his warm smile and lively sense of humour.  

The family is currently deferring until later in the Springtime the arrangements for celebrating Mike’s life and laying his ashes to rest in our churchyard at St. Anne's.   

At this time, we celebrate Mike’s life, and mourn his passing, through our prayers and the stories we share with one another by phone or in others ways that we may connect with one another.  Mike’s favourite Psalm was Psalm 23 – scroll down to read it as you offer a prayer.   

with care and compassion,  

Andrew +                                  

The Rev. Andrew Twiddy 

 Psalm 23                  The Divine Shepherd                  A Psalm of David

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; 

he leads me beside still waters;   

3 he restores my soul.  

He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,  

I fear no evil; for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff — they comfort me. 

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; 

you anoint my head with oil;  my cup overflows. 

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 

all the days of my life, 

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.