Montague Cooke

It is with sad hearts that we say good bye to Dad - Montague Cooke, January 30th 1919 to January 22, 2016. A life lived to the fullest - from his birth in Kandy, Sri Lanka to Kelowna, B.C. Canada. His spirit lives on with his wife Helen, his two sons Mickey and Vere and his precious 'Baby Girl' Grand Daughter Alicia.

Monty was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) the Hill Capital. He attended St. Thomas’s Preparatory School in Colombo, transferring to the famous Trinity College, Kandy. This was in tradition of his Father and Uncle and carried on with his sons. After leaving school he went on to train in Plantation Management at his Uncle's property. His training was interrupted by World War 2 where he enlisted with the Royal Navy. Serving in the Merchant Navy, doing supply runs into the Mediterranean, his ship was sunk and he was a POW in Alexandria. He was freed and continued to serve in the Indian Ocean until the end of the war.

He was in Colombo during the Easter Sunday raid in 1942. A story he often told was of a suicide pilot flying into a frigate in the harbor. He then went back into tea plantation Management where he met the love of his life, Helen. They were transferred many times, finally settling at Palmerston, until nationalization in the 1970’s. He then went into the State administration until the political winds of change retired him well before retiring age.

He continued to live in Kandy before joining his son in Canada, bringing with him his pet dog “Wendy.” His life in North Delta was an easy transition where he made friends including his special friends Dale and Jean Sedor and their children.

Monty made his final move into the David Lloyd Jones Home in 2014. He was comfortable and well cared for, he always remarked that everyone was so kind to him there.

He had a great fondness for Grant, who used to make him his favorite ‘Cream of Tomato’ soup. To him, that was the best soup he had ever tasted!

Monty wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t thank all that looked and cared for him, including his neighbor in Kelowna – Tim.

Thanks to Dr. Ketch for treating Dad all the years. Thank you and in Monty’s words “God Bless You.”