Esther MODIN
Dec. 19, 1926 – Oct. 8, 2010
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our mother, grandmother and friend, Esther Modin. Esther passed away in the 100 Mile House Hospital, succumbing to a chronic liver illness that suddenly took a turn for the worse. Born in Fenwood, Saskatchewan; Esther was the eleventh of seventeen children born to Ferdinand and Emilie Dohms. In November of 1945, Esther left Saskatchewan and moved to Vancouver, B.C. She soon found employment with Nabob Foods. At a dance, a few years later, she met the love of her life, Carl Modin, who was a fisherman at the time. On July 2, 1949, after a few years of courtship, they were married in Prince Rupert and spent their honeymoon on the fishing boat. They purchased their five acre property on Hilchey Road the following year, in 1950. At that time, Hilchey Road was not much more than a trail. In fact, they had to park the car quite a ways down the road and hike into their little
house for the first while. After being married for seven years, Esther and Carl became first-time parents. Within the next seven years their family was complete, with a total of five children.
Esther is survived by one brother and five sisters, her brother-in-law Ted Modin, her children: Brenda [Lorne] Campbell River; David [Judy] Campbell River; Carol [Doug] 100 Mile House; Alan [Evelyn] Squamish; and Melody [Andy] Victoria; Grandchildren: Brandi, Eli, Peter, Wesley [Jen], Alisa, Christopher [Ashlee], Graham and Trevor, and Great Grandchildren: Ethan, Jayden, Calli, Logan, Gabby, Kevin, Sierra, and Gabrielle. Esther was predeceased by her husband, Carl [in 1988] and grandson, Kevin [in 2005].
Our family would sincerely like to thank all of the Home Care workers who helped our Mom out over this past year. Mom developed wonderful friendships with each and every one of you and always looked forward to the next visit. Thank you also to Mom’s longtime [original Hilchey Road] friends, Betty, Louise and Dora. Other key people in Mom’s life: Grif, Barb Floyd, and Pete and Barb Hedges. We thank you for keeping close ties.
We must also thank Dr. C. Mahoney [Campbell River] for the great care and treatment he provided over the past eight years, and to Dr. F. Mah and Dr. R. Nicholson [100 Mile House] for the wonderful and compassionate care they provided over the last five weeks of Mom’s life. Dr. Nicholson came to know her as a very sweet and very brave woman who never once complained about the treatment or interventions she was put through. Thank you also to the very caring nursing staff in both the Campbell River and 100 Mile House Hospitals.
A Celebration of Esther’s life will be held at Sutton’s Funeral Home, 502 South Dogwood St., Campbell River on Saturday, October 23, 2010 at 2 o’clock.
Refreshments will follow in Sutton’s Tea Room in honor of our Mom. We will never forget her.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the North Island Liver Clinic (CR Hospital) or the Canadian Liver Foundation would be much appreciated.