Margaret Mary Schram

Rita Schram died peacefully in her own home in Nanaimo on March 6th, 2026 at the age of 101 years.

Rita is survived by her daughter, Veronica Knutson (Alan) of Nanoose Bay,

BC and her son, Philip Schram (Yvonne), of Victoria, BC. Also by grandchildren, Alf, Ben and Emma, and great grandchildren, Emily, Bela, Karli, and Brody. She is preceded in death by her husband of many years Philip Sylvester Schram, son Alex Schram (Vicky) of Preston, UK., and grandson Aaron Knutson (Tami) of Campbell River.

Rita was born on 13th August, 1924 in Lancaster, Lancashire, UK to parents Alexander Bain (Edinburgh) and Isabel Bain (nee Donnelly) (Londonderry). She left school at 14 as was the norm in those days and worked at a couple

of jobs before working for the Canadian Treasury in Lancaster where she met her future husband, Philip Schram, Canadian Forces. They married on the 26th of January, 1946. After marriage she journeyed to Canada as a war bride. They settled in her husband’s hometown of Chatham, Ontario in December of 1946. Unfortunately her husband didn’t get his old job back

and after some time they returned to Lancaster, England where they raised their family until December 1975 when they returned to Canada, this time to British Columbia, first to the Fraser valley and then to Nanaimo.

She was a happy person, level headed person, who loved her family and friends (Moss, Carol and others) and who had a delightful sense of humour (always ready for a laugh). She learnt to drive at the age of 52 and enjoyed her new found freedom in the first car she had ever owned. Rita loved the water and went swimming twice or more each week until she was 84. She learnt to play the keyboard and at 84 started acrylic painting, only stopping when she got to 100.

A small gathering for those who knew her well will be held in the future.