April 23, 1944 ~ April 6, 2020 (age 75)

Obituary

We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Louise Rolande Cotterill (nee Jobin) on Monday, 06 April 2020 after a brief, yet fierce battle with cancer. She was 75. Louise was greatly loved by her husband of 54 years, Ewan, and their children Julie (Pat), Jamie, Andrew (Kristy), and Megan; grandchildren Sarah (Varinder) & Laura, Jasmine (Heath) – Alannah & Daniel, Olivia, Eli & Owen; great-grandchildren Blaise, William, Amara; and her siblings Madeleine (Alan), Pierre, and Suzanne.

Louise was born and raised in Ottawa, where she began her working career with the Government of Canada.She was working in the office of the Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources when she met her future husband, Ewan, a young Northern Sevice Officer, in town for meetings from his posting in the Northwest Territories. Together they began a decades long adventure that took them to all parts of the Canadian North and Greenland, and to homes in Inuvik, Fort Smith and Yellowknife, Ottawa and Calgary. While in the North Louise developed a great interest and skills in willow basket weaving and willow furniture making, teaching courses in both. She was involved in a group which established the first horse ranch in the Northwest Territories on the boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park. During her time in the North Louise was involved in numerous craft organizations and Guilds, fulfilling her great and ongoing interest in pottery and weaving.

While living in Calgary Louise was a member of the Sheep Creek Weavers, a group who participated in local fairs with their demonstration of processing fleece from shearing to finished garment in just over two hours.

Upon moving to Qualicum Beach in 2005 Louise was finally able to engage full time in her greatest passion, gardening. She attended Vancouver Island University where she graduated as a Master Gardener, and was an active member of the Vancouver Island Master Gardener’s Association for many years. Louise was an enthusiastic and highly respected member of the Oceanside gardening Community, serving on working groups and on the executive of several local gardening clubs, and organizations such as Seedy Saturday, and Oceanside Gardener’s Anonymous of which she was a founding member. She was active in the creation of Qualicum Beach’s first community garden.

Louise spent years transforming the outside of her new home in Qualicum Beach from bare lawn into a lush botanical oasis, known for its wide, and in many cases rare variety of trees, plants, shrubs and flowers. Louise had an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and was generous in sharing that knowledge, and could always be counted on to identify those mysterious plants that stumped even experienced gardeners. She gave countless cuttings and plants to her fellow gardeners throughout the Island, and her family will take great comfort, and pride, in knowing that her memory will live on in beautiful gardens throughout the region.

Casual acquaintances will likely have little awareness of the scope of Louise’s travels in life. She has dined with the Queen, Princes and Princesses, Prime Ministers , Governor Generals and Ambassadors, but her real and abiding interest was always in  people and their stories, each of them unique and fascinating to her. She was at all times genuinely interested in meeting new people, learning about them and sharing experiences. Louise cherished the experience and gift of friendship even more than her beloved garden. The list of friends who loved her,responded to her interest and affection, and appreciated her generosity, warmth of spirit, kindness and compassion, is as eclectic as it is long. They and her family will greatly miss, and long remember, Louise Rolande Cotterill.

Because of this terrible virus we are unable at this time to hold a celebration of life for Louise, but her family hopes that you will hold a pleasant memory of Louise in your heart, and in your thoughts, until this awful time is over and we are able to come together again and recognize those we love who are now gone.

Condolences through https://www.qbmemorials.ca/

• Date : 2020-04-06