Obituary of Corinne C. Sawchuk

Corinne Clark Sawchuk It is with huge heart break that Corinne unexpectedly passed away in her sleep, December 25th, 2017. Predeceased by her husband, Dimitro Sawchuk, in April 2013. Dimitro was a very kind and loyal man who stood behind her all through their life long marriage. She cared for him during his health problems of final years with great devotion. She felt very sad over his death and was lonely at home over past years. Born in 1931 and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she was well educated at Rupert’s Land Girls School, now Balmoral Hall, from grades 5 to grade 11, graduated from Havergal College with grade 12, and graduated with a BA from the University of Western Ontario while she resided at a Catholic Residence called Brescia Hall and member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She had been so active in the community, as a Holy Wow Poet, a Creative Writer, an Entertainer of Parties with Game Themes, a member of her Anglican Church Choir and in regular Sunday attendance, traveled the world each year, completed 4 Liberal Arts Certificates (working on her 5th) from 2008 to 2017 from Simon Fraser University, publishing her final book “Somewhat Off Balance” on July 4th, 2017, to publish 5 (maybe 6) books throughout her life and most important Corinne was a person who cared with great empathy and compassion for all people of this world. She loved her friends as much as family. She was a Giver in life who wanted to have Trust in People. She felt great sadness for the downtrodden of this world. All of Corrine’s life involved participating and volunteering her time for charity, groups, clubs, associations such Toastmistresses International and Sorority, schools, universities, Co-op Apartment Council, Canadian and Provincial Celebrations, Province of BC and Country of Canada in many capacities such as orientation person, class and alumni representative, secretary, vice-president and president. She acted as Class Representative for her educating schools up until her passing. She was involved in Expo 86, Vancouver marathon swims, bike-a-thons,run-a-thons and walk-a-thons including the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim where she collected Certificates. She had literally hundreds of certificates from both educational and training courses she completed in a huge number of subjects and disciplines, creative writing, library technician diploma, first aid, computer office, insurance, gemology, and many other areas. She had certificates of completion for the many physical activity accomplishments in a-thons and was involved in the torch relay for the BC Summer Games Torch Run Certificate 1998 and Trans Canada Trail Relay Certificate at age 72. There is too many accomplishments to mention but its safe to say she did as much as 10 life times. She gave so much to fellow Canadians all her life. Corinne was raised as Anglican and her first marriage was also to a husband raised Anglican so this is the family Church. She was involved teaching Sunday School, Choir and Reading during study. She considered herself spiritual rather than religious. Corinne was a wonderful mother as supported by her remembrance in her writings where she noted that her son gave her a Mother of the Year Award on May 11, 1978 to commemorate her love, her self-sacrifice, and her kindness as a mother when life was such a struggle for her. She always held her head up high in spite of the many adversities that challenged her and gave so much of the little she had to others. Corinne described in her biography the 12 things she enjoyed most in life, collecting programmes since 12 years of age, writing poetry and giving poetry readings, inventing mainly ‘fun book’ games and party themes, taking courses, entertaining, caring for animals where she especially loved Boston Terriers, making wine, traveling to many places throughout the world, collecting different kinds of jewelry, writing prose, especially of an autobiographical nature, see or writing to friends and acquaintances, and contributing news to alumni magazines such as Balmoral Hall, Brescia Hall, Havergal College, Kappa Alpha Theta, and the University of Western Ontario. To me the person she was so much more important than her accomplishments. In spite of being my mother, Corinne is the most wonderful human being I have ever known and I know for a certainty her close friends feel the same. She was loved more than she knew to make up for the great challenges of her childhood. She gained what was missing from her mother, the love, and the acceptance. Something that is granted most people at their birth she had to strive for all her life. I want to give special tribute to Corinne’s maternal grandparents, Kathleen and Orange and her Step-Father Ross, who made the difference in her life with special care, kindness, love and acceptance. They gave her support that she needed through her childhood and into early adulthood during their lifetimes. Corinne will be missed so much more than she could have ever dreamed, for me life will never be the same since her passing, she was the One I loved the Most in this World. She could light up the room with her presence, her vivacious nature and her joy of life that she gave to all she knew. Her life was all about Giving without count to bring joy to the lives of others. She loved life and lived it with wonder and amazement. The burial is planned for Thursday, January 25th at 1 pm at the Maple Ridge Cemetery. The Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, March 8th at 1 pm at St. John The Divine Anglican Church,21299 River Road, Maple Ridge, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. John The Divine Anglican Church in Corinne’s honor would be greatly appreciated.