Dulcie Harriett Loucks (Caines)

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our mother Dulcie Harriett Loucks (Caines) on December 20^th, 2021.  She died as she lived, a feisty woman of formidable presence

that contradicted her small stature.  She was surrounded by her family during her final days and left this world in peace, to be with her late husband Vern.  She is survived by her brother Milton (Jo), children Linda (Mike), Gail (Glenn) and Byron (Kim), grandchildren Dane (Emma), Joel (Lanni), Bradley (Dana), Sarah (Nathan), Jake and Evan, great-grandchildren Sophie, Emme, Leo, Harrison and Waylon and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

It seems somehow appropriate that our Mom was born on April Fool’s day as she has a great sense of humour.  Born in Burgeo, Newfoundland to a devout Anglican family, she was the youngest daughter of 9 children.  Life at home was strict, but education in a small three-room schoolhouse was always an adventure for the young prankster Dulcie.  When the teacher left the room for a few minutes, Mom put on his coat and hat and marched around the class.  She was caught in mid-stride when he returned suddenly.  Her punishment was to stand in the corner with a stack of books on her head until she had learned her lesson.  Handing out Ex-Lax to all of her classmates and waiting for it to ‘work’ seemed like a flawless plan, except when she and her friend were the only ones not running to the outhouse.  More time in the corner with books on her head ensued.  Putting pepper inside the stove triggered a grand explosion when it was lit, causing prolonged coughing and sneezing in the schoolhouse.  Courtesy of all the book-balancing and corner-dwelling, Mom had finely honed the art of the prank and this time she remembered to convincingly sneeze along with the rest of the kids.  Her perfect crime was never discovered.  Her love of a good prank, at the expense of others, and inability to get away with it led to many hours of corner standing with books on her head.  This, we have long suspected, was the main cause of her apparent lack of height.

Our mom was one of the strongest people we knew.  She fell in love with our dad and moved across Canada, away from her family where she didn’t know a soul.  She did not drive in those days and spent many days alone raising her family while our dad was at sea.

She was fiercely loyal to all of her family and her friends.  When one friend was in the throes of chemotherapy, and losing her hair in clumps, Mom volunteered to shave her friend’s head while they both cried during the process.  When another friend moved to long-term care, Mom took the bus every second week laden with homemade sandwiches, cookies and cheezies to bring some cheer to her friend’s life.  When yet another was holding vigil over her dying mother, our Mom sat with her, clasping her hand, so that she would not have to endure her mother’s passing alone.

She was always willing to help out, despite her physical limitations.  She volunteered at Queen Alexandria solarium for children with special needs and at the Rainbow Kitchen on a weekly basis helping serve hot lunches to people in need.  She baked cookies, bread and squares for church sales and worked at the church dinners, teas and bazaars.

Mom welcomed all our friends to the house, and although she was a little intimidating at times, our friends loved being part of the extended Loucks family, whether it be for afternoon tea, school day lunches or parties in the evening.

Although Mom suffered a considerable amount of pain due in her later years, she rarely complained and toughed it out in her usual stoic way, right up to the end.

We would like to acknowledge and thank VIHA and their Home Care support team that allowed Mom to live in her own home independently.  During her final days, as these selfless workers tended to our Mom’s needs, it was clear that she had touched all of them deeply.  They cried as they said their goodbyes to our Mom.  Many of them said they were not supposed to get attached to their ‘clients’ but Mom was different.  It was heartwarming and emotional to see the impact our Mom had on these wonderful people who truly cared for her and we are so grateful.

We would also like to thank Hospice and the Palliative care team for all of their support during Mom’s last days that facilitated her wish to remain at home with us, and not in the hospital.  A tireless team of caring individuals who answered the phone, day or night, and helped ease us through Mom’s final days with compassion and empathy.

She truly was a hell of a dame.

A Celebration of Mom’s extraordinary life will be held on what would have been her 90^th birthday, April 1^st, 2022.  Details will be announced when confirmed.  Tributes, if desired, may be made to Operation Smile Canada, PO Box 235 Station Main, Markham ON L3P 3J7 https://secure.operationsmile.ca/ or the Victoria Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation, 1952 Bay St, Victoria, BC V8R 1J8 https://causes.benevity.org/

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com