Ebbs passed away peacefully at Saanich Peninsula Hospital in the Palliative Care Unit, surrounded by her dear husband of 56 years, Ray; son, Greg (Katie Ciampi) and daughter, Jenny (Bobby Varghese). She also leaves behind grandchildren, Kyle and Talia (Greg) and Naiya (Jenny and Bobby) in addition to many other beloved relatives and cherished friends.
Ebbs was an only child and was predeceased by her father, Worsley in 1955 and her dear mother, Betty in 1966. Her mother’s family, the Gough’s, were considered one of the true founders of Nanaimo and arrived in Nanaimo from England in 1852-4 on the ship, Princess Royal. Her father’s family was Victoria-based Ebbs-Canavans.
Since Ebbs lost her father at an early age, she primarily grew up with her beloved mother in Nanaimo. Ebbs moved to Victoria for nurses’ training in 1959, where she soon met her husband, Ray. They married in 1963. Ebbs graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in 1962. She had a full and wide-ranging career as an RN in Victoria, which included obstetrics, ER/ICU/PAR, Employee Health Nurse, Director of Employee Health, then ending her career at Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion.
Ebbs was a fiercely dedicated and loyal wife to Ray; a cherished cousin, sister-in-law, and an ‘Auntie Ebbs’; she was a creative, decisive, honest, loyal, and wise mother, grandmother, and friend to many. Ebbs loved social gatherings, shopping anytime, and could skillfully sew anything with beauty and perfection.
Ebbs resisted against her health struggles until the very end.
We love you and miss you so much, but you will always be vibrant in our hearts and memories.
A million thanks to the excellent staff at the Palliative Care Unit at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. We cannot thank you enough for caring for Ebbs/Mom with both expertise and respect and for honouring her with a dignified and peaceful passing. Thank you to the Palliative Care Unit volunteers, who provided us with an oasis of tranquility amidst the sadness and chaos of losing one of our dearest loved ones. We would also like to express a special thank you to GP Dr. McNaughton and many specialists who looked after Ebbs. Acknowledgements also go out to our dear friends and family who tirelessly dedicated so much of their time and love visiting and supporting Ebbs during the past months.
A Celebration of Ebbs’ Life will be held on Wednesday, February 27th, at 2 pm in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to ‘Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation.’
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Irene Dumka
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Garry & Lynn Rai Ray and Family
When we met at the Golf Tournament as starters, I new you were a gentlemen. Over the years, listening about your worldly travels with Ebbs, I knew how deeply you were in love and the soul mate she was to you. I met Ebb and realized how much the two of you were one.
Our deepest and sincere condolences. Garry & Lynn Rai
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Sheryl Hamilton Ray, Greg, Jenny, and Family
With such sadness we send our condolences and heartfelt sympathy. I recall vividly the day Ebbs joined our “family” at Victoria General as our Employee Health nurse. We have fond memories of our fun and happy times together. Thinking of all of you.Jeff and Sheryl Hamilton
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Marie & Jim Jennings Dear Ray, Greg, Jenny and family,
It is with deepest sympathy we learned of Ebb’s passing. She was a wonderful lady, so strong through all the bumps in her highway of life. Her smile would light up a room and she would always so up-beat. We will dearly miss her, as will you all. Please know that we are thinking of you in this very sad time.
Unfortunately, we cannot be there in person for the Memorial Service, but we will definitely be there in Spirit.
Our hearts go out to you at this time. Sorrow will come and lessen in time, but the memories will always stay in your heart forever.
With heartfelt sympathy to all,
Marie & Jim
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Alan Fishwick Ray:
Sincere condolences to you and your family.
Muriel & Alan Fishwick
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Joanne Stecko I worked with Ebbs as a young nurse at Kiwanis Pavilion. I enjoyed her zest for life and her easy going attitude. I still remember the quilt she gave me when my first child was born. Although I cannot attend the memorial, I will be thinking of Ebbs and am giving my sincere condolences to the family.
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David, Elizabeth, Ryan, Taylor, and Evan Shergold Dear Uncle Ray, Jenny, Greg and family,
We send our love and sincere condolences to you all on the loss of Auntie Ebbs. She will be remembered so fondly when recalling the many times we’ve shared.
Thinking of you at this very difficult time with love.
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Tom and Verna Collett So many memories of happy times with Ebbs: dinner parties, celebrations with family and friends , beautifully crafted fabric gifts (bags, festive vests, aprons, napkins sewn by those magic fingers of hers), ski weekends at the chalet, and chats over tea (using the good china cups). My garden and deck will miss her visits to check out the plantings and approve the colour scheme. We have enjoyed a special friendship over the years and will miss her very much. Ebbs was truly an amazing and inspiring person. Her smile would light up the room and she so loved social events.
Our deepest sympathy and our best love and wishes to you all.
We are thinking of you.
Love, Tom and Verna
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Sally & Mike Blayney We were deeply saddened to hear of Ebs’s death, and offer our condolences to Ray and the whole family. Sally and Mike Blayney
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Bev and Rick Beck Dear Ray Jenny Greg and family
We so loved Ebbs. A truly kind loving lady. Always in our hearts.
God bless.
We will be with you in spirit on Wednesday. Biggest of hugs.All our love Bev and Rick xxxx
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Jen Shergold-Varghese Hi Mom, we miss you so much… And quite honestly could really use some of your direction, talent, & focus to help us plan your Celebration-of-Life on Wednesday!! Haha. I’m going to try to channel Ebbs when I attempt to speak (instead of blubber) my speech on Wednesday.. 🙂 Thank you Mom, for always being ‘in my corner’ whenever I really needed you. And thank you for loving our Naiya so freely, fully, and completely. XO
Love always, Jenny XO
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Lindsay Fleming Ray and family I’m so sorry for your loss.
My Condolence and thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
I have fond memories of meeting and being welcomed by Ebbs
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Melanie Ashby When I think of Ebbs I think of her exceptional wisdom, courage, humour, honesty and compassion. I will especially miss having the ability to send all my major life dilemmas her way only to have her solve them for me, typically in five words or less. Her wise words and clear eyed way of seeing the world will be with me always. Jen, I am so sorry that I cannot be there in person on Wednesday but I will be there in spirit.
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Barry Arnsdorf Ray and family. We were saddened to hear of Ebbs passing and hope your memories will sustain you at this difficult time.
Val and Barry Arnsdorf
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The Verghese Family Dear Ray, Greg, Jen, Bobby and Naiya,
Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of dear Ebbs, your wonderful wife, mother and nana. While we share your grief, we also join you in finding solace knowing that she was so loved and was so blessed, that she was able to say goodbyes and be with all her loved ones in the end.
We pray for strength for Ray and the family – May her soul rest in peace.
Love and hugs,
Rahel, Zachary, Rinky & Cherry
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Christien Shipton Dear Ray and family
I’m so very sorry to hear of the passing of Elizabeth, I remember her as such a loving and vibrant woman. Vicky Shipton so admired her and spoken of her with such praise.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
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Jennifer and Sam Scully You are in our thoughts!
Jenn and Sam Sr
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Wendy Williams My heartfelt condolences go to you Ray and your beautiful family.
Ebbs was such a sweet lady and one I am thankful to have had the chance
to know.
Love sent your way Ray and the hugest of hugs .
Wendy
(Bills niece )
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Bruce and Ruth Whitten We both are so sorry to hear about Ebbs, She was always cheerful and friendly, a beautiful lady, our hearts go out to you all, With Lots Of Love Bruce and Ruth
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Bev Hyde To Ray and Family:
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Ebbs passing. We spent many years working together in the Employee Health Department, first at the old St. Joseph’s Hospital, Vic General and then at Begbie Hall at RJH. I have fond memories of our many hospital reunions with coworkers who became family.
Please accept my condolences on your great loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Bev Hyde
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Audrey Stevens Ebbs was a force of nature and one of my all-time favourite people. You will be missed terribly but the memory of you will forever bring smiles to all our faces.
Condolences from the Suos and Stevens Families.
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Joan Bates What a lovely pic. of Ebbs. She was a wonderful lady and I know you will all miss her very much.
I still have and use the calendar folder she made for the RO ladies. I still have the cute little card she sent after we won the Henrietta and see it every day at my desk.
Take care….For me time does not heal but the memories are forever.
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Barbara Harwood (Beresford-Green) Dear Ray:
My memories of Ebbs are of happy times. Her sense of humour, her love of parties, her caring thoughts and her generosity resonate in my mind. When I lived next door to you all on Ebony Place, we shared many different events, and Ebbs was a wonderful supportive lady to me and my daughter Sarah.
Please accept my deepest sympathy to you, to Greg and to Jenny. Big hug Ray,
Barbara
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Tova shergold Dear Ray, Greg, Jenny, Katie, Bobby and Naiya
When I think of Ebbs I think of a very special and beautiful lady, who was fun, made you laugh and
has left me and my family with such wonderful memories. Barb, Tove and I feel so blessed to have been
with all of you and Ebbs. We miss her, but we know we will be together again. May the Lord shower
you with His Love, Peace, Comfort and Healing.
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Donna Blyth Ray and family
Ray, I am so sorry for your loss of your soulmate, Ebbs and to your kids and their families a great mom and Grandma. Although I hadn’t seen you and Ebbs for some time I would often ask Bonnie how you both were doing.
Thinking of you
Donna Blyth
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Neil Fowler So sorry to hear of your loss Jen and family.
My sincere condolences.
Neil
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Heather Cornall Ebbs and Brian are having their date in the spiritual world! Enjoy and look after each other love and kisses from Heather
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CATHY (COLWELL) MCKERNAN I am so sorry to hear of Ebbs passing Although I didn’t know her personally ,I heard so much about her back in the day. So please accept my sincere condolences
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Wally and Laurie McKay Wally and Laurie McKay
Dear Shergolds, Given time I think the hole in our hearts Ebbs left will heal and be replaced with nothing but fond memories of riding in a white convertible, packing and moving, making drapes and making drapes again, burping babies, singing Christmas Carols, visits at various cottages and chalets, riotous dinner parties and quietly holding hands. We cherish and love you all.
The McKays
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Irene Dumka Ray and family please accept my deepest condolences in the loss of your dear wife, mother and grandmother. My thoughts are with you. Irene Dumka
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Pam and Bev Highton Dear Ray and Family, Pam and I were saddened to learn of Ebbs’ passing. We remember fondly our time living across the road from you on Hillview Ave. some 40-50 years ago.
We are thinking of you at this difficult time.
Please accept our most sincere condolences.
The Hightons
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Naiya Hi Nana… I miss you and look forward to our Mac and cheese date on November 2nd… Love you so much!
Please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved wife and friend. This is a very tough time for you as I well know.
Irene Dumka