Parcourez la nécrologie de Winnifred Helen Cools September 6 1936
January 14 2025 résidant dans la province Colombie britanique pour le détail des funérailles

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A Life Well Lived By A Lady Well Loved!
Winnie passed peacefully with family by her side. She is and will always be deeply missed by her children Bob (Chris), Will (Ramona), Cath (Roy) and Sandra. Her grandchildren Adrian (Natasha), Jeremiah (Marsha), Josh, Tony (Ashley), Tammy (Trevor) and Patrick. Her great grandchildren Kaia, Lyla-Rose, Zoey, Sophie, Henry and (mini) Winnie. She will also be missed by her various step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren and many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. Winnie was predeceased by ‘the love of her life’ Bill, her siblings, her son-in-law Andy, grandson Alan and great grandson Adam.
Winnie was born on September 6, 1936, in the town of Laverna, Saskatchewan. The youngest of 7 surviving children, she spent her early years growing up on a homestead in Saskatchewan. Having lost her mom to TB at the early age of 10 years old, she spent most of her time living with her older siblings, as work took her dad away for lengths at a time as a cook in the Army and then a Forest Fire Ranger. Winnie went to school at Antelope School. She was a very social girl and report cards indicated as much. Her dad gave her permission to quit school in Grade 11 if she went to work. She started at Woolworths and then moved to a bank for a very brief time. Winnie then worked for a retail credit company editing write ups, filing and purging files. She liked that job and continued with it after her sons were born, working from home with the company bringing work to her in the evening and picking it up in the morning.
Winnie met Bill at a dance hall in Calgary, Alberta. They danced together beautifully on the dance floor and in life for over 60 years. They married August 1, 1960, and purchased her dad’s home, where he lived with them until he passed. They welcomed 4 children early in their marriage and were in the process of building a new home on the same land when they decided to move the family from Calgary to the Cowichan Valley. They started Cools Construction and many family members worked for the company over the years. The family was raised on a beautiful farm in Shawnigan Lake. Winnie took to farm life like a duck to water. Supporting her husband, raising their children, keeping the books and working the farm. Farm life came with its share of challenges, as did raising 4 kids. She did this with determination, grace and heaps of love. Her family was her world. Winnie was selfless in her commitment to her family.
Winnie was the most excellent wife for Bill. She supported him in all his endeavors with steadfast love and devotion. She was a remarkable woman and a fantastic role model. Winnie’s heart was so sweet and pure. She embraced Bob’s and Will’s life mates Chris and Ramona, as her own and has loved them as daughters for over 40 years. She welcomed and cherished 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Sundays were devoted to attending church and a day of rest and relaxation. Bill was raised Catholic and introduced Winnie to the Catholic faith early in their relationship. Winnie was deeply committed to her faith and the Catholic Church. They raised their family in the church and continued to attend weekly services throughout their lives, at home and when travelling, as health allowed. Winnie was very happy whenever a priest visited her while in hospital. She would say she had a great day because the priest had come to visit and spoke a blessing over her.
Once the family was raised, they started up Cools Construction again, this time with sons Bob and Will, and sold the farm. Upon retirement, Winnie and Bill began a new chapter in their lives. They became nomadic and began living in their 5th wheel, serving in various provincial parks in the summers as campground hosts and then wintering in Yuma, Arizona, always making new friends along the way. Camping with their children and grandchildren was a huge blessing in Winnie’s life. She loved to have a campfire and was a bit of a firebug. She was happiest tidying and burning stuff. They bought a lot in an RV park in Parksville and lived there for a few years before settling in their home in Duncan. Winnie was an avid gardener and loved to grow flowers. She always had plants and flowers wherever she was living.
Winnie was also a very crafty person and loved to make and beautify things with her hands. She would knit toques, mittens, blankets and socks when her kids were little. She loved do puzzles (electronically in later years), make things with plastic canvas (Kleenex box covers, earrings, christmas decorations, etc.) and enjoyed doing word searches. Winnie took to colouring in her latter years as she found it very relaxing. Once she was in her assisted living environment she began to paint.
Winnie lost Bill after a lengthy battle with ALS, just a month and a half shy of their 60thwedding anniversary. This was a big adjustment for her, and she found herself missing him dearly. Life was not the same. Winnie’s family stepped up as needed after Bill’s passing, doing whatever needed to be done to support Winnie. Driving services to dialysis, doctors’ appointments and hospitals, prescription runs, grocery and personal shopping, day and overnight support and important visits to keep connected. A true testament to Winnie’s commitment to her family was being returned to her. Winnie was extremely proud of each and every member of her family.
A couple years after Bill passed, although apprehensive, Winnie agreed to move into an assisted living facility. She settled right in and embraced what activities she could with her demanding dialysis schedule. She joined the Wednesday walking group, she joined in with the crafts, colouring and painting. She enjoyed her new found friends immensely, and they so very much enjoyed and loved her. Connecting over meals, walks and chats by the fireplace or in the craft room. Life was good there and she was not so lonesome anymore.
Winnie faced a bunch of health challenges later in life. She had inflammation of the vascular system (vasculitis) twice. She broke her hip once when she stepped on a stone and fell in her driveway. She had an aortic aneurysm fixed when she was 80 years old, and she was living with a slow growing liver cancer. As a result of the vasculitis her kidneys failed and then she needed dialysis 3 times a week, for the past three years. Winnie broke her ribs last August and spent the next 5 months in a very real health struggle.
Winnie was one strong lady and faced all these challenges head on with dignity and grace. She never ever complained.
Winnie left her earthy body to be with Jesus on January 14, 2025. A stroke had left her nonverbal and the family gathered in her hospital room daily for the week before she passed and took turns overnight so she was never alone. She had a rich time reflecting on and in the love of her family. The Saturday before Winnie passed, she was fully aware and was doling out kisses by the bunch. We will all cherish that day. Winnie is on a new adventure now….no longer time bound, earthbound or trapped in a failing body. She is free.
The family would like to express their deepest and sincerest thanks to Dr. Burger and Dr. Antonsen for walking this journey with Winnie. We would also like to thank the amazing staff at the Dialysis Clinic in Duncan for all their loving kindness and support over the last 3 years. We would like to thank the health care team at the Royal Jubilee Hospital who cared for Winnie over the course of the last 5 months. Thank you so very much for your care and kindness.
We would also like to thank the staff and residents at the assisted care facility where Winnie lived for the last 2 ½ years. Your friendship and love contributed to Winnie’s happiness in her final years. Thank you so very much for your friendship and kindness.
A funeral service will be held Feb 1st at 1:00pm at St. Edwards Catholic Church, 2085 Maple Bay Rd, Duncan BC followed by refreshments and further remembrances of Winnie at the Knights of Columbia Hall, 5864 Indian Road (near Maple Bay Rd and Tzouhalem Road) Duncan BC from 2:00 to 5:00pm.
Note: The refreshment hall is within easy walking distance from the church, please, if possible, leave parking at the refreshment hall for people with mobility restrictions.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Winnie online at:
Kidney.ca (click donate now then option to make a memory donation (Winnie Cools))
or by mail:
Kidney Foundation
200 4940 Canada Way
Burnaby BC V5G 4K6

September 6 1936
January 14 2025

Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Winnifred Helen Cools September 6 1936
January 14 2025..

H. W. Wallace Cremation and Burial Centre

Décès pour la Ville: Duncan, Province: Colombie britanique

avis deces Winnifred Helen Cools September 6 1936
January 14 2025

necrologie Winnifred Helen Cools September 6 1936
January 14 2025

Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Winnifred Helen Cools September 6 1936
January 14 2025 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.