Sadly we announce the sudden passing of our brother, Eric, in his sleep at Christianson Village Care Centre in Gibsons, BC on July 16, 2024. He was predeceased by his father, Irvine and mother, Muriel and 3 siblings, June, Thomas and John (Gillian).
He leaves behind many family members and friends including siblings Marilyn Jensen (Dennis), Wendy Scott (Ron), Joanne Brunner (Larry), Peter (Carol), Irv (Maria), Merv, Susan Rigaux (Jack). There are also many nieces and nephews and cousins that came to the family reunions and experienced Eric’s hospitality and humour. He arranged the first of many family reunions at his Park Motel in Sechelt, BC and even travelled to Namibia to see his brother John who worked for Oxfam and Save the Children for many years in Namibia and Ethiopia. He was active in the Lions and Rotary Club and then became assistant Regional Director and then elected as Regional Director for Sunshine Coast contributing much to enhance the communities he lived in. Always a friendly smile and conversation for the many people who knew him and wanted to talk about an issue. Eric had been elected Councillor to Fort St John city council as well.
Eric was born in Calgary and graduated from the business program at Mount Royal College and went on to help many businesses in Calgary, Vancouver, Fort St John then he settled in Sechelt with the purchase of Park Motel. Margo joined him in sprucing it up and turned it into a thriving destination for many including family. Fishing trips, boat trips - no problem he was phoning friends to arrange fun excursions that he often paid for himself - always generous and giving. Sechelt was home for him for over three decades until his passing last week. He lived big and never let his short stature hold him back, just always positive and engaging. He had many, many friends over the years and it will be hard to track many of them down. His GGI group went skiing together all the time near Calgary, his many trips to Melville, Saskatchewan to participate in their annual Christmas parade as the elf, his harmonica pals group that had gigs all over Western Canada. We have to thank his high school principal who got Eric to become MC at many school and sports events. Eric gained in confidence and built his skills and never looked back. We will miss his easy banter and many stories of adventures and misadventures over the years. He also loved his dogs - especially his Shelties.
We plan on two Celebrations of Life for Eric - the first being on September 27, 2024 at Christenson Village, Good Samaritan Canada, Gibsons, BC, 585 Shaw Road, V0N 1V8. The second one will be in Calgary, his hometown, later on. In memory of Eric, please consider making a donation to Good Samaritan Society (GSS). Please send any condolences for his family to [email protected].
