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Hawrysh, Ava

(January 16th, 2023)

Ava was born in Nelson, B.C. and was the eldest of nine children born to Bert and Florence (Ogilvie) Fitchett.  She grew up in Harrop, attended the one room school in Harrop and later the Procter School.  She was raised in a loving family and of musical talent.  Her parents had a band that played for dances at the Harrop Hall, Procter Hall and several rural communities where on occasion she and her sisters would sing with the band.

Once completing school, she became a telephone operator and worked for the BC Telephone Company in Nelson and Trail.  In 1955 she, and husband Merv (deceased) owned and operated the Procter General Store.  In 1972, she joined the staff in the Food Services Department at Kootenay Lake Hospital where she quickly became a Food Service Supervisor.  In 1980, Ava moved to Brentwood Bay and worked as a Food Service Supervisor in the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.  She loved the job and had many fond memories working with her colleagues until retirement. 

Ava was constantly busy with her love of gardening, baking and decorated beautiful cakes for any occasion.  She was a talented painter, including oil & watercolours and a very good seamstress.  She loved music, going to dances, and entertaining family and friends. 

She was a member of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) where she served as Worthy Matron and was also selected to be Representative to the State of Delaware.  She was a proud member of the OES for more than half a century. 

Ava is survived by her children Cindy and Laurie/Chuck (Marni), dearly loved grandchildren, Jordan (Laura), Morgan and Megan (Lavern), Amanda, Michael and Miranda, and cherished great grandchildren, Colton, Cali Ava, Ayla, Jaxon, Finity, twins Ava and Madison. 

She is also survived by her siblings, Sylvia (Bob), Herbert (Claire), Leo (Helen), Sandra (Philip), Bertie (Karen), and Reita (Dick). She was predeceased by two of her siblings, Debbie, and Leonard as well as brother in laws Jim and Bruce.  She had many cousins, nieces, and nephews in the large Ogilvie/Fitchett clan. 

Ava and her husband Fred (deceased) travelled much of the world, wintered in the USA and Mexico but Ava was her happiest spending summers at her lakefront property in Procter surrounded by her family since its purchase in 1965.

She passed peacefully at Kootenay Lake Hospital with her daughter at her side.  She will be forever in our hearts and always remembered for the kind, caring, and sweet person she was, deeply loved by everyone she knew.  She was beautiful, inside, and out. 

Her family is grateful for the compassionate and attentive care of Dr. L. MacKay, Dr. B. Tuvel, all KLH staff in the ER, lab, infusion clinic, 3rd floor and reception.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.  A celebration of life will take place in the summer of 2023.

Rest in peace sweet Mother/Grandmother/Great Grandmother of ours.  We will miss you and love you forever. 

 

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