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adly, this year Cowichan Family Life Association lost the last of the three founding members of the popular Annual Garden Tour. It saddens me that after 2 years of cancellations due to COVID, I was looking forward to bringing it back and of course inviting Charmian to attend. I remember sitting with her in 2019 enjoying tea and freshly baked scones while enjoying the amazing view of the ocean from her front living room window. Even after the loss of her daughter and husband, she continued to do what she could to promote our garden tour and garner support for Cowichan Family Life Association (CFLA). According to Luke, Charmian’s son-in-law, Charmian had a great sense of humour and was a lot of fun to be around. Charmian was born and raised in Zimbabwe Rhodesia and then moved to
her husband passed away, she wanted to downsize. She was originally looking to move to Arbutus Ridge but not finding one suitable, decided to buy a lot and have a house built to her liking. It took approximately 18 months to build, and it had a lovely garden and spectacular view of the ocean.
Wilf and Charmian Horner
CELEBRATING CHARMIAN HORNER Co Founder of the CFLA Garden Tour England which is why she was very English including her wittiness. She did her schooling in England and spent many years training in the slums of East London. After meeting and marrying Wilf, she moved to Canada and settled in the Cowichan Valley. She and Wilf had one daughter together and was stepmother to 5 grown children from Wilf’s previous marriage. She was a caring and fiercely independent woman. According to Luke, who was married to Charmian and Wilf’s daughter Frances, she was a no fuss, practical person and
a very kind, generous, fun, positive, thoughtful lady. He says that she was always good company even after the passing of her daughter and her husband. “She was great as a mother-in-law,” stated Luke. She loved chatting, baking, gardening, and Lily her Westie. She was a very active lady and as an example I was told that at the spry age of 79 after
In keeping with the way, she lived her life, Luke says she passed away the way she would have liked, very quickly. In fact, at age 84 ½ she was driving herself to Duncan when she experienced a stroke and passed away the next day. She would not have wanted to be reliant on others. If you wish to attend the “Celebration of Life” for Charmian Horner (July 3, 1937 – January 5, 2022) it will be held May 7th at 11:00 am at St. John’s Anglican Church in Cobble Hill, 3295 Cobble Hill Rd.
Submitted by Tina Short
Sands Funeral Chapel
Cremation & Reception Centre-Duncan by Arbor Memorial
Janice Winfrey Funeral Director
tel: 250-746-5212 • fax:250-746-7034 sandsfuneral.com/duncan email:sandsduncan@arbormemorial.com 187 Trunk Road, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 2P1
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