Linda Fuller Grace
May 22, 1947–May 28, 2020
Linda sent this photo in 2009. It looks much like the one at the top of her obituary but is more flattering. So, instead of also including the one at the top of her obituary, here is one linked to her obituary that shows Linda holding her Miniature Schnauzer, Heidi:
Copied below is Linda's obituary from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix:
https://thestarphoenix.remembering.ca/preview/e07b74146164441c91fb153b1f40?fbclid=IwAR0OBglXrv1OiHb7L65LqG_dcussUGOWDe4-6NcVENH7qJulLuT4oiNd1EU
Linda GRACE (nee FULLER, married name SCHNARE)
May 22, 1947- May 28, 2020
Linda Grace died peacefully at home in Victoria, BC in the arms of two of her children; Nicky and Paula. She left behind her four children, and seven grandchildren; David Scharf, (Arthur and Oliver) Carolee McGillivray (Ben), Nicky Schnare (Sloan and Bruno), and Paula Schnare (Olivia and Juno). Linda will also be dearly missed by her siblings, Garth (Carol), Alex and Liane, her second family of Elaine, Lorne, Neil Crocker and Marilyn Johnson, as well as all her nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Born in Montreal, Linda attended University at McGill, University of Saskatchewan, and Simon Fraser University. She was a teacher in her early career in Delisle, Sk, and then a bilingual teacher and librarian in Saskatoon—jobs in which she delighted. Also in Saskatoon, Linda ran a daycare from her home while raising her children, participated in the 'open school' with her children, practiced her love of dance (ballroom, country western, French Canadian and more), had close relationships with Oliver and Arthur when they were young, was a Big Sister to Justine, and fostered many friendships, family relationships, causes, groups, and hobbies. Prior to moving to BC to be closer to her children and grandchildren, Linda lived in Saskatoon with her second father, Stu Crocker, until he passed away.
In BC, Linda lived in Ladysmith with Paula and was there for the births of Olivia and Juno. She delighted in spending time with them, as well as taking trips to Vancouver to see her grandson Ben. She spent many happy years, days and hours exploring the island with her miniature schnauzer and perfect companion Heidi; walking Dallas Rd, hiking around Chemainus Lake, and taking ferry trips to the gulf islands. Linda was also there for the births of Sloan and Bruno, who, like all the grandchildren, got the benefit of close relationships with their Grammie while they were young. Linda was a voracious reader and accomplished writer; her love of language and wit was contagious, happily infecting all her children and others fortunate to be in her book club or writing group.
Linda led her life as an example of service; she gave to others because she could, because it was the right thing to do, and because her genuine curiosity about people and who they were was unending.
Mom's understated resilience through adaptability, humour, and focus on gratitude, was the thread throughout her life; weaving a beautiful and subtle portrait of strength, wit, and grace.
We wish we had more of you Linda/Mom/Grammie, and we hold close our memories of you and your gift of unconditional love.
A celebration of life will take place when circumstances allow. Condolences can be emailed to schnare36@gmail.com
Here is the bio Linda sent in March 2009:
Forty ought years is a lot to sum up succinctly in an entertaining fashion! I had a geographically chequered University career—one year McGill, one year University of Saskatchewan, one year Simon Fraser University, back to the U of S from which I obtained a BA and a BEd. I have taught French and English at the high school level, and the last years of my teaching career were as a teacher/librarian in french immersion elementary schools in Saskatoon. I'm retired from teaching, but do some group facilitation on a contract basis.
I spent my entire adult life in Saskatoon until October of 2008 when I moved to the small town of Chemainus on Vancouver Island. I was married for 25 years, have been single since 1993. I have four children:
David (sons Arthur and Oliver) is a radio show host in Saskatoon.
Caro (son Ben) coordinates a program for at-risk young mothers with the Vancouver School board.
Nicky is a police officer in Victoria.
Paula works as a nurse in Duncan and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. I live with her and her husband, Glen, in Chemainus.
Given that my girls are all located here on the west coast, it wasnt a hard decision to move here once I was retired and my ties in Saskatoon were loosening. It is a fabulous place to live at this stage of my life.
My passion for years was dancing—CW, line dancing, ballroom, folk, French Canadian folk dancing and square dancing. Unfortunately, my age related problem is a hip with severe osteo-arthritis; I need a hip replacement, so no dancing at present. But tai chi, swimming (the only team I was on at MRHS was the swimming team) and fitness work for me now.
I haven't been in touch with anyone from MRHS over the years except for Tarrel Tingley Armstrong who has been a wonderful friend; she just visited me here on Vancouver Island in January. Tarrel and I met after she stole my boyfriend in Grade 8 by asking him to the Sadie Hawkins dance! While exchanging words about that, we found out we only lived across the Dunrae Gardens School park from each other and have remained friends ever since. Tarrel's brother, Grant, lives in Victoria and is my friend as well, so we are going together to hear Leonard Cohen in concert soon. Be still my heart! About Leonard, I mean...
A couple of momentous events at MRHS were when Mr. Anakin's bobsled team won gold, and when I came out of a Grade 11 math exam in November of 1963 to find the school corridors in turmoil over the news of John F Kennedy's assassination.
It has been fun to see what classmates from MRHS are doing after all this time! I have memories of teachers too, but not sure if some of them should be posted on this site! I DID have a love of language and of literature cultivated by my French and English teachers at MRHS—and a lifelong in-depth familiarity with Hamlet which I remember studying for THREE months with Miss Sellars. I loved learning Latin, it has stood me in good stead as languages have been my university majors and my passion. Though not taking typing did mean having to take a typing class in my forties when it became necessary for keyboarding on computers!
As my love of poetry flourished at MRHS, here are a couple of poems I have come across recently that struck a chord for where I am in my life now:
Age
May I grow lovely growing old -
So many fine things do;
Laces, ivory and gold,
And silks need not be new;
And there is healing in old trees,
Old streets a glamor hold;
Why may not I, as well as these,
Grow lovely, growing old.
~ Karla Wilson Baker
Love After Love
The time will come
when with elation
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror
and each will smile at each other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.
Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.
~ Derek Walcott
Regards,
Linda