OLIVE THERESA SCHURMAN (nee Harte)
At the hospice of the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria B.C. on Monday, June 2, 2008 in her 88th year, Olive Theresa Schurman (nee Harte), beloved wife of Donald M. Schurman and loving mother of Eleanor Campion (Earl), Allan Higdon (Willa), Barbara Dorrell (Robin),and Jonathan Higdon (Rosemary). Dear grandmother of Michael, Joy, Leith and Andrew. Stepmother of Michael, Bruce, Angus, David, Julian Schurman and Marianne (Schurman) McLure and their families. Survived by her sister, Doreen Lansbury of Burlington, Ontario, and sister-in-law, Carolyn Mossman (George) of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia and by many nieces and nephews in Canada, Ireland and Australia. Predeceased by brothers, Leonard, Jack, Wilfred and sister, Elizabeth, also her first husband, Howard Higdon.
Olive was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on February 7th, 1921 to the late John and Elizabeth (Watson) Harte, the eighth and last child of a very musical family. The family moved to Dublin in 1922 where Olive was educated at Alexandra School and College. During her teen years Olive took ballet and ballroom dancing lessons, and in 1942 attained her Associateship in the National Society of Teachers of Dancing (London) and taught ballroom dancing. Olive emigrated to Canada in 1957 with her husband, Howard Higdon and their four children, settling in Kingston, Ontario. She joined the staff of Queen’s University two weeks later and excelled in different administrative positions for seventeen years. Olive was a founding member of the Kingston Chapter of Sweet Adelines Inc., and sang in the chorus and with three winning quartets for over twenty years. She also sang with the Kingston Choral Society. Her years as a member of the Kingston General Hospital Auxiliary were very important and rewarding for her.
In 1994 Olive moved to Victoria B.C. with Donald Schurman, her husband since 1974, and lived in Oak Bay until her death. She joined the Friends of Government House Society as a community gardener and did volunteer work as a member of St. Matthias Church, which she and Donald had joined. Olive was vital, dynamic, enthusiastic, and much loved. She drank deeply of this world and lived a long, well-travelled and very fulfilling life. We thank God for her life and witness.
Friends will be received at a Funeral Service to be held at St. MATTHIAS ANGLICAN CHURCH, 600 Richmond Avenue at Richardson, on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 2:00 pm with service conducted by Canon Ron Corcoran. A reception will follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Christian Children’s Fund of Canada, or Christian Blind Mission International, or to the charity of your choice, would be greatly appreciated.
“Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young …”
Psalm 84
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