Fermie Sharon Wilder

Fermie passed away on Monday, October 2, 2017 in New Westminster, British Columbia, at the age of 65 years, beloved sister and sister in law of Shael and Sherri Wilder of San Diego, CA; adoring aunt of Livia Wilder of Bellingham, WA and Evan and Alix Wilder of New York City, NY and devoted friend, neighbor and counsel to many.

Fermie was predeceased by her father Oscar Wilder in 1960, and by her mother Patricia Wilder in 2008.

Fermie was educated at the University of Manitoba where she earned the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law, and was called to the Bar of Manitoba in 1981. After practicing criminal and family law in Winnipeg for ten years, Fermie relocated to Vancouver, BC in 1991, and was called to the Bar of the Province of British Columbia. She carried on her family law practice until the day of her passing, always a fierce advocate for her clients who were very often those most in need, and always more concerned with her clients’ welfare than her own financial success.

Fermie lived her entire life with independence, incredible determination, and boundless compassion for others. She truly loved her practice of law and the interaction she had for over thirty five years with colleagues, court officials, the judiciary, and most important, her clients, for whom no effort was too great. In recent years, she often traveled to northern communities of British Columbia to act as Duty Counsel and serve the needs of local residents who needed legal representation. Fermie loved her work in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and elsewhere, and even in failing health, traveled to those communities to advocate for her clients. She also had a charitable soul, keenly aware of the less fortunate, and making her annual Christmas visit to the Vancouver East Side Women’s shelter to drop off toiletries for the women seeking shelter from abusive homes.

She will be ever loved and missed by all who knew her.

The family wishes to extend its deepest gratitude to Dr. Edgar Lau, and the many other doctors, nurses and caregivers at The Richmond Hospital, and family and friends who helped, supported and comforted Fermie these past few years during her declining health.

“True, the day allotted to each of us is not the same in length, in light, in beauty. Some children of earth are privileged to spend a long and sunlit day in the garden of the earth. For others, the day is shorter, cloudier, and dusk descends more quickly as in a winter’s tale. But whether our life is a long summery day or a shorter wintry afternoon, we know that inevitably there are storms and squalls which overcast even the bluest heaven and there are sunlit rays which pierce the darkest autumn sky. The day we are privileged to spend in the great park of life is not the same for all human beings; but there is enough beauty and joy and gaiety in the hours, if we but treasure them. Then for each of us the moment comes when the great nurse, death, takes us by the hand and quietly says, “It is time to go home. Night is coming. It is your bedtime, child of earth. Come, you’re tired. Lie down at last in the quiet nursery of nature and sleep. Sleep well. The day is gone. Stars shine in the canopy of eternity.” -Rabbi Joshua Liebman

We would be honored if you can join us to Celebrate the of Life of my sister, Fermie, at one of her favorite lunch spots. Please RSVP to me at [email protected] by Wednesday, October 18th so that we can give catering an accurate count. We look forward to seeing those of you we already know, and meeting those of you we don’t.

When: Saturday, October 21, 2017

2:00pm-4:00pm

Where: Country Meadows Golf Course Grille

8482 No. 6 Road

Richmond, BC V6W 1E2

What: Loving memories, tea and snacks Fermie Style