Anne Gunvor Arnold

‘Mor’ to daughters Elisabeth (Raymond ”East”), Tina (Raymond “West”), and Sylvia (Alastair), ‘Bestemor’ to grandchildren Oliver, Aiden, Hart, Katriona, and Nicola,‘søster’ to Kari and the late Ole Agnar, and ‘Tante Gunvor’ to ‘familien’ in Norway, she is beloved and will be deeply missed.

Dearest to her were her grandchildren. She held on to be sure to give them each parting words, finishing with her signature phrase “Make the most it.”

And make the most of it she did. Raised on a large farm in Løten, Norway, Gunvor was instilled with a deep love of land and heritage. A strong independent streak and sense of adventure led her to immigrate to Canada with her then-husband, Keith Arnold, a British glaciologist she met at the foot of the tallest mountain in Norway, Galdhøpiggen. Together they forged deep, abiding connections with other Ottawa-area families who shared the joy and freedom of cross-country skiing in the Gatineau Hills.

In their home on Oakland Avenue and at their cottage by Devil Lake, she welcomed many for meals and overnights: geo-scientists, athletes, and extended family--both of blood and of choice. The yearly skating party and ‘Jule kveld’ dancing around the Christmas tree brought in a flood of friends and neighbours, whom she took great pleasure in hosting.

To many, particularly the younger women in her life, she was a model of incredible strength, generosity and wisdom. Ahead of her time, she ran her own physiotherapy clinic for over thirty years, on Riverside Drive. In addition to tending to her patients, she freely gave therapeutic advice and massages to many skiers and paddlers from across Canada.

She moved to the West Coast in 2000 to, as she said, “the best apartment in Vancouver.” The expansive view of the Salish Sea matched the breadth of her living, of her loving. With her unique and beautiful watercolour and acrylic paintings surrounding her, she received her children and grandchildren with such delight and gratitude, ensuring there was always ‘god mat’: berries, ‘gjetost,’ and ‘vafler’ a mainstay. And always there was news of her venturing: earlier on of exotic travels and, up to the last week, of the nature finds on her daily walks—first buds, blooms, exquisite dried grasses.

The family is profoundly grateful to those who helped her with her last version of cancer, angiosarcoma: her dear caregiver Teresa, her fabulous family physician Dr. Jessica Palmer, her caring oncologist Dr. Parmeet Bains, the LGH chemo nursing staff, and the amazing palliative care team that allowed us to care for her so lovingly and naturally in her final days.

A memorial celebration will be held in Ottawa in late August, details to be confirmed. Online condolences may be made at www.dignitymemorial.com

Memorial donations may be made to lghfoundation.com "Donate in Tribute" to Anne-Gunvor Arnold, "Hospice and Palliative Care."