Edward (Ed, Eddy) Hunter Haveman

With great sadness and deep love, we announce the passing of Edward (Ed, Eddy) Hunter Haveman, who went home to be with his Lord and Saviour on December 16, 2025, in Richmond, British Columbia, at the age of 64.

Edward was born on October 20, 1961, in New Westminster, British Columbia. He was predeceased by his parents, Arend and Corinne (née Golhof). He is lovingly remembered by his siblings Jim, Miriam (Rick), Joy (Gerry), Gerry (Colleen), Peter (Kathy), and his twin sister Elaine. He will also be deeply missed by extended family and friends who knew and loved him throughout his life.

Ed lived with schizophrenia from his teenage years, facing challenges that shaped much of his early adulthood. Many years later, the medication Clozapine brought a profound and long‑awaited change. Mom often called it a “miracle drug,” because it brought a level of stability and improvement that other treatments had never been able to provide.

For most of his adult life, Ed lived with a gentle, steady rhythm shaped by the places he called home and the family who surrounded him. When he moved to a small hobby farm in Cloverdale, he lived with loved ones and found great satisfaction in the daily routines of caring for the property. Time on the John Deere tractor became a favourite part of the day—mowing the lawn, raking the riding ring, and taking the dogs up the gravel road in the little cart hitched to the back. Tending to the animals and the outdoor bird aviary brought quiet joy, as did trimming hedges, trees, and the countless other tasks that kept the farm thriving. These simple, hands on moments suited him perfectly, reflecting the dependable, down to earth way he moved through life.

During those years in Cloverdale, Ed was especially uplifted by the weekly visits from Jim and Mom. Their steady presence meant the world to him, and he looked forward to those times with a happiness that was unmistakable.

In time, Ed moved to Richmond, where he again lived with family and continued in the same gentle rhythm, surrounded by familiar comforts and supported by the people who loved him. Jim and Mom’s weekly visits continued there as well, bringing him the same deep joy and sense of connection.

Throughout his years in both Cloverdale and Richmond, Ed also found meaningful community through Pathways Clubhouse in White Rock and the Whale House program—places where he felt understood, welcomed, and valued.

These communities focused on his strengths and offered structure, purpose, and a place to belong. He took part in supported work and life‑skills activities, volunteering, cooking classes, events, outings, and helped with the clubhouse’s daily operations, as well as joining in recreational and social outings that enriched his days.

Ed lived a life full of adventure; it threaded through every chapter of his life. He loved playing hockey in his younger years and never lost his enthusiasm for the game. He remained a loyal Vancouver Canucks fan through every season, cheering them on with unwavering hope.

Ed moved through the world with a tender heart and a deep, gentle love for all living creatures. He was the kind of person who would pause on a walk to rescue worms from the sidewalk, and he especially adored dogs. For a few years, he volunteered with the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS), giving countless hours to walking and caring for the dogs there. When the original shelter eventually closed, it was a real loss for him — he had poured so much of his heart into that place. Later on, an entirely different organization emerged using the same name, now known as the Regional Animal Protection Society. His compassion was steady, instinctive, and unwavering.

He loved taking houseboat trips and setting out on all kinds of other vacation adventures, finding joy in the simple, grounding pleasures of life—casting a fishing line into quiet waters, breathing in the stillness of nature, and wandering new landscapes in search of the unique rocks that always caught his eye. He had a gift for spotting beauty where others might overlook it — the unusual colors, waxy sheens, shiny bits, and intricate patterns hidden in riverbeds, road cuts, and eroded hillsides. Agate, jasper, quartz veins, arrowheads, or fossils—each discovery felt like a small treasure to him, especially the gold flecked or quartz pieces that made him light up with childlike excitement.

His visits to Okanagan Falls, where he spent time with the entire O’Reilly family, were some of the happiest chapters of his life. Their home, their warmth, and the landscape around them gave him a sense of belonging that stayed with him always.

He enjoyed his time with Doug—jumping off the wharf, swimming until the sun dipped low, hiking up Peach Cliff, exploring hidden corners of the valley, lending a hand with whatever needed doing, and especially losing himself in the magic of Turtle Island.

The outdoors was his happy place, a place that always brought him peace and joy.

He faced and overcame multiple medical challenges with remarkable dignity and unwavering trust in God. Over the years, he endured countless treatments, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, hospital stays, and episodes — a “grocery list,” as he would say — meeting each challenge with courage and quiet resilience. Very rarely did he complain. He simply kept pushing forward, listening to his doctors, and meeting each day with determination.

Even in his final chapter, Ed carried himself with honesty, grace, and unshakeable strength. His compassionate, caring nature and deep faith were constants, shining through. His loss leaves a profound hole in our hearts, and his absence will be deeply felt. We ask that you remember him by the lasting impact he had on the lives of all who knew him. Though he is no longer with us, he will live on lovingly in our thoughts, hearts, and memories.

Ed carried a deep and enduring love for his mother. When she passed away, the loss struck him with a profound sorrow that he felt to the core of his being. His grief was so overwhelming that he couldn’t bring himself to attend her funeral or memorial, often saying, “When you’re already sad, why would you want to be sad all over again.” It wasn’t avoidance — it was simply the tenderness of his heart speaking. That same sensitivity shaped the way he cared for others, and it remains one of the qualities we will always remember and cherish about him.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the many doctors, nurses, care givers, and medical staff who cared for Ed over the years. Their dedication and kindness meant more than words can express.

Ed will be cremated and laid to rest in a place meaningful to our family. Yet more than any resting place, we will carry him with us — in our stories, our laughter, our faith, and the quiet moments when we feel his presence most.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

May we carry forward the kindness, courage, and quiet faith that defined Ed’s life, honouring him in the way we live and love.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Foundation, the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society, Vancouver Lookout Housing, or the Union Gospel Mission (Vancouver, BC).