Eric Walter Hurwood

HURWOOD, Eric – beloved husband to Joan for 65 years, Dad to Gillian (Darrell) and Gareth (Melinda) and Grandad/Zaza to Holly, Maryna(Jordon) and Trevor. Pre-deceased by his wife Joan and his sister Joan, Eric leaves extended family in England and the USA. Eric was born to Tony and Lil Hurwood in Wembley, England on May 30, 1937. Growing up on Carlyon Road he worked as a paper boy, sales clerk (Harrods of London) and did a stint in the Royal Army Pay Corps, before joining Barclays Bank as a teller. He went on to teach at the bank’s school. He lived his life in Greater London and Swanley until 1970 when he, Joan, Gillian and Gareth crossed the pond and the country to North Vancouver, Canada. The family story tells that Dad came home one day and asked Mum if she fancied moving to Canada and she asked if she should start packing.

The bravery of our parents in making that move cannot be denied – they knew nobody except Dad’s sister in the USA and all their information had been gleaned from newspapers and magazines. Everything in Canada was not quite as expected and they spent many years carefully budgeting so that we could live the best possible life.

Dad joined the Bank of Nova Scotia to facilitate the move and spent a couple of years travelling the country as a bank inspector. In search of a bit more at-home time, Dad joined the Bank of Montreal as a branch manager and the family moved to Powell River, where we remained for 5 glorious years – Dad loved Powell River – it was what he had always hoped for in Canada – the forest, the ocean, fresh air, the family and a dog.

When asked why he was moving to Canada Dad’s standard response was ‘ to build a log cabin’. Unfortunately the cabin was never built but many home and garden improvements kept handyman Eric busy

In 1978 the final bank transfer landed Mum and Dad in Brentwood Bay where they remained for some 34 years. Dad’s free time was spent in their massive vegetable garden which he tended with love, patience and hard labour. He built a greenhouse and trellises for berries and grapes and cultivated a variety of fruits and vegetables. When the grandchildren arrived they all spent time in the garden with Grandad, picking berries or tomatoes and playing in the dirt.

Dad left the bank in the late 1970’s to pursue other career opportunities – working for Namdor Reinforcing Steel and lastly for Investors Group, providing sage financial and investment advice to clients from all walks of life.

After some years of retirement, Mum and Dad moved to a lovely home in Sooke, just around the corner from Gillian, Darrell and the younger grandchildren. Though gardening rapidly became out of the question, Dad still pottered around their property, doing as much as he could.Dad was never one to sit still – there was always something to be done.

In 2024 Mum and Dad moved to a condo in Langford where we all hoped life would be a bit easier for them both. Sadly we lost Mum in October and Dad was heartbroken.

A long-time believer in dying with dignity, Dad chose Medical Assistance in Dying and left us peacefully after a final glass of scotch, surrounded by the family he loved and was so terribly proud of.

Our father had a love for song and theatre that was understated and not widely perceived. Half-songs, literary quotes, amateur theatrical pursuits, a pop-up passion for custom, culture and costume, Eric was more than he appeared to be, or perhaps ever connected to within himself.

His son Gareth combined that love with the age-old ethic that “the show must go on,” and maintains that commitment to his own part-life as a performer, in his father’s name.

Eric’s family honours that ethic in life by carrying on without Mum and Dad, but armed with the incredible gifts they left us. Among those gifts is the quiet commitment to friendship and community. Mum and Dad demonstrated, rather than stated, that others come first. If you had Eric and Joan for friends, you had unending support in all its forms. They spent their lives providing for their families’ future, while never losing sight of the importance of charity.

From the bravery of emigration, and the opportunities created for their descendants, and the life-lessons along the way Eric’s family is deeply grateful for everything he and Mum provided and inspired. Mum and Dad emigrated in hopes of a better life for their children. There is no question that they succeeded.

We are still here. The show must go on. We love you, whether you like it or not! Thank you for everything.

Gareth and Gillian remember (not necessarily fondly) of being sung “Smile though your heart is aching, smile though it may be breaking, though there are clouds in the sky, we’ll get by” whenever we were grumpy or miserable. Dad – we will try!

At Eric’s request there will be no public service. A small family memorial has been held.

If you wish to remember Eric or Joan, he would be honoured with a donation to MAID House Victoria in his and/or Mum’s names. https://www.maidhouse.ca/ways-to-donate