Peter Clare Redfern

For most of his 84 years Peter lived life at full volume, his best days spent with his true loves, his wife Carol and his sailboat, the Nootka Rose. Born in Ottawa, he graduated from Queens with a degree in Engineering and also a wife and one and a half children. He had a long career with CIP (under many changing names) in the pulp and paper industry which brought him from Ontario and Quebec out to Gold River for many years. Following the sudden loss of his son in 1978, he continued with IP to Maine, Alabama and Arkansas before returning to Gold River to finish his career. Sailing had always been a passion and retirement started on the Nootka Rose taking Peter and Carol down the coast and through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean and back. After many winters in the tropics and two long trips to Hawaii they sailed back to Courtenay where he built their home with son-in-law Alan, facing their favourite view of Comox Glacier.

Peter played, then followed football, was an avid skier, determined runner, ambitious gardener and enthusiastic fisherman. He loved music, played guitar or banjo around the campfire and was tapping his toes to Dixieland jazz to the very end. He was a fearless force of nature, a bull in a china shop, fingernails black from some recent injury and loved to say “we know we’re having fun when there’s blood on the sails”. He loved to be surrounded by family and his latest, greatest joy was watching his great grandchildren at play.

He was predeceased by son Peter, parents Evelyn and Harry, brother Stephen, sister Ann, sister-in-law Ann and brother-in-law Bob Pickard. Left to grieve his passing are his wife of 63 years, Carol, daughters Janice Holmes (Mike), Judy Grieve (Alan), Susan Cash (Steve), grandchildren Carly Matkin (Jeff), Wade (Christina), Katie and Peter, great grandkids Tyson, Kaya and Weston, brother John (Gerry) and siblings in-law Kathy Redfern, Zalman Amit, Joe Pickard (Joyce) Helen Pickard, and Nancy Lusk (Keith)

Many thanks to the endlessly patient and loving staff at Evergreen Seniors Home. In lieu of flowers donation to the Alzheimer Society of BC would be appreciated.