Cecelia Gloria Ashbaugh

Cec was passionate about life and work. For many years she excelled as an emergency nurse and was happiest amidst all the action. She attended nursing school at the University of Saskatchewan where she met and married her husband, Jim. September 2nd would have marked their 56th anniversary.

In 1997 a work injury led to an early retirement. Though a difficult life change, Cec explored other passions and travelled extensively. She backpacked across Europe with her daughter Dena. She drove across Canada and then to New York with both daughters, Dena and Nicole. She visited Ukraine with her sister Iris and met relatives she had never met. As a couple, Cec and Jim went on numerous cruises that took them to Alaska, Mexico, the east and west coasts of North America, the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, New Zealand, the Mediterranean, South America and the Panama Canal. Their last cruise was in 2019 when they visited England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. Cec also took her daughter Nicole and her family to Mexico and Disneyland which were highlights. Most recently she dreamed of returning to Italy with her live-in caregiver Tatiana.

Cec also enjoyed spending time at home on her acreage on Bradner Lane where she lived from 1985 to 2021. Here she enjoyed an extensive garden with exotic plants, including a persimmon tree. Cec kept buying plants and Jim kept planting. Always a wise woman! Like her mother Mary, Cec’s favorite, however, was the classic beauty of her roses.

It is hard not to think about Cec without thinking of her rock collection. She started collecting rocks as a young girl and spent hours doing this. Her favourite finds were heart-shaped rocks, which magically appeared wherever she went.

Though Cec moved to BC in 1969, she kept strong ties to home in Saskatchewan. She was close to her mom, 7 siblings and 24 nieces and nephews. She visited each summer and attended every family event. She also contributed greatly to stories in a family biography compiled by her nephew’s wife Jaime.

Cec loved to connect with people and always engaged with those around her. You would often find Cec in deep conversations with sales clerks, servers or random strangers. She was an amazing Baba (Grandma) and close to her 4 grandchildren, always having their best interests at heart. She liked to give gifts just to make people feel special.

Cec always had a striking presence. She was a great beauty and prided herself on her fashion sense and expressing herself through clothing. Cec was bold and fun. She loved dancing, attending concerts, throwing gourmet dinners, attending theatre and thinking and living outside the box. There was no one like Cec and never a dull moment around her.

In recent years Cec suffered from several fractures due to advanced osteoporosis. Though this limited her mobility and kept her in care or at home, she never once complained. She kept her spirits up talking at length to friends and family. She reconnected through Facebook with old classmates. She continued to explore her passions through documentaries and music… her most recent obsession being Kenny Rogers. She also loved being able to speak Ukrainian again daily with Tatiana who immigrated from the Ukraine and came to live with Cec and Jim in January of this year. Tatiana’s loving presence brought much comfort to Cec during the last 8 months when she needed it most.

Cec lived fully and witnessed incredible changes in her lifetime. From riding bareback to school in Foam Lake Saskatchewan to jet-setting around the globe. From having no phone on the family farm to Face-timing on the web. Her passing has ripped a hole in the hearts of many. Cec fought with fierce determination to live. However, she came to accept it was time to let go and with this she passed quickly and peacefully. She was surrounded by her family during these difficult last few days and knew she was well loved. She will be especially missed by her surviving family; her husband Jim; her daughters Dena and Nicole; her grandchildren Brendan, Kaidan, Zack, and Baker; as well as her siblings Johny, Adella, Iris, Orest, Maurice, Dolores and their families. She is predeceased by her parents Matt and Mary Kucey; her brother Ed and his wife Eleanor; her brothers-in-law Doug and Paul' her sister-in-law Marlene; her nephews Gavin, Myles and Bud; her niece Tammy and great-nephew, Jonathon.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hendersonsfunerals.com for the Ashbaugh family.