Velma Douglas

A loving and gentle woman died on Friday, July 10, 2015, at Winston Park. She was nearly 91. When God’s palm touched the water of Velma’s life, his love for her rippled outward to others she touched. And what a life of love she gave to her family!

Raised in the row-housing district in Toronto, in the 20’s, Velma’s parents, Lily and Ben Croft, gave her the faith she would carry throughout her life. In church she met her future husband Tom, when she was 18, he the handsome tenor singing in the church choir. Their love story would grow for 64 years until Tom died in 2007, but for Velma, Dad remained beside her in spirit. Velma and Tom’s children – Tom Jr., Robert, David, and Susan – were born of that love. Tom Jr. became a builder, Robert a teacher, David an artist, and Susan an office manager. When Velma’s children married – Tom to Carol, Robert to Elaine, David to Vicki, and Susan to Mark – a parade of grandchildren came to Mom: Warren, Corinne, Colin, Craig, Matthew, Laura, Amy, Erin, and James. Each grandchild carried the inevitable pictures for her fridge and little treasures she would hang in the cottage. Built in 1958, the cottage in Haliburton was her heart home, lovingly crafted with her husband Tom, from the great white pines surrounding the island. Their young children, with limited protests, helped dig the 6 foot holes for the cement block piers. Another ripple moved on the water, and the grandchildren grew, and they found partners in life: Corinne and Jock; Craig and Julie; Laura and Mike; Amy and Billy; Erin and Will; Matthew and Jill; Warren and Liz; James and Chelsea. And just as she had hoped, the ripples moved gracefully wider with great-grandchildren – Courtney, Haley, Evan, Lia, James, Alicia, Addison, and Ava. The smallest of these great grandchildren, Ava, was with Velma when she died; we were all there. She died gently and lovingly, just as she had lived. Deeply devotional, profoundly compassionate, mindfully deliberate, and eternally faithful, Velma communicated with her eyes, and her soul. Surrounded by love, our sweet, sparkling Velma has gone peacefully to God. We are comforted knowing she is reunited with her husband Thomas William Douglas. We are blessed. Such is life, isn’t it, that we understand exactly what we need to know when it is time to understand it.

Visitation is Tuesday, July 14, from 2- 4 p.m. and 7 – 9 p.m., at Westmount Memorial Celebration Centre, 1001 Ottawa St. S., Kitchener. The memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m., at Trinity United Church, 74 Frederick St., Kitchener, Rev. Katharine Edmonstone officiating. Reception to follow at Trinity. Parking for Trinity is available in nearby City Parking garages. Donations to the Alzheimer Society or Trinity United church are appreciated, and can be arranged by contacting Westmount Funeral Home at 519-743-8900.