March 8, 1926 - December 5, 2020
In the early hours of the morning of December 5, 2020 we said our final good-byes to a very dear spirited and adventurous soul, our mother, Naomi Loewen.
She was a mother to eight children: Christine Cross, Niel Poulsen (Jane), Glenn Poulsen (Susan), Richard Lambert (Maria), Bill Hallam (Rita), Debbie Loewen, Trevor Hallam, Hazen Hallam (Penny) as well as fifteen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Born in Dalmeny, SK into a large Mennonite family, the third youngest of fourteen brothers and sisters, Naomi was very quick to show she could set her own pace and was not afraid to ruffle a few feathers in doing so.
She was gifted with an innate adventurer's spirit and it showed early and often; from playing pranks and jokes with her siblings to drag-racing horses on the Main Street in Hepburn with her sisters.
In 1945 she followed in her older brother's (Hugo) footsteps and joined the army. After basic training she was given a choice to remain in Saskatchewan or re-station in Halifax, NS. For Naomi there was only one option - she chose adventure and went off to Halifax, NS. For her, it was always about wanting to know what was around the next corner.
From Halifax she moved many times - too many times to list but quite literally she covered this country from coast to coast. Naomi had a true love for life and desire to not just see or visit places but to know about them as well.
Growing up with her we were all exposed at a young age to her ever evolving adventurous spirit. Moving days were never thought of as a bad day. Somehow she always turned it into a cool experience, another adventure, another corner to look around and another chapter to write. Her later years were spent primarily in Alberta and British Columbia, close to her children and grandchildren but still never letting too much grass grow under those every-graying wheels.
Naomi also had a great love for books and music. She would spend hours and hours reading books on history and adventure but no book was more important to her than her Bible. She had an amazing imagination that could clearly envision the author's words as they described foreign lands or even alien worlds.
Thanks to her, all of her children now also have that love to read and have imaginations to create and build stories of our own. Her love of music ranged from old time gospel hymns to country and western and even some modern rock and roll.
She was never afflicted with the term "age gap". Through music and reading she was able to stay connected to all her children and grandchildren as she was taught by her mother and genuinely believed that our children are our future and we must be able to see the world through their eyes.
Naomi (Mom) was the last of her line, the Matriarch and cornerstone of our family. Words cannot describe how much she has meant to us over the years. When discipline was needed you dealt it, when love was needed you filled us with it, when courage was needed you showed it, when advice was needed you gave it. We are all stronger and better off now because of you. We love you, we miss you and we will never forget you. Until we can all meet again. Rest in Peace Mom.
In memory of our mother, donations to the Alzheimer Society of BC will be greatly appreciated.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Condolences may be offered at www.vernonfuneralhome.com
Vernon Funeral Home