Mary Catherine Freeman. Nee Fox (formerly Todd)
Mom died peacefully after a long struggle with dementia. Born in Vancouver she lived a full life, including as a working single parent, before memory loss struck in her early seventies. She loved social events, travelling, being with family, reading The Vancouver Sun, gardening and playing sports and piano.
She is survived by her sons, David Todd (Sue) and Douglas Todd (Ingrid), grandsons Brendan Todd, Nate (Jenna), Thomas (Renata) and Devin Todd-Jones, three great granchildren, Isla, Rhys and Silas, and step-daughter Dianne Freeman.
She is predeceased by her first husband, Harold Todd, who suffered from schizophrenia in his late twenties, as well as her second husband, Eric Freeman, a widower she married in 1972. Her sister Olwen Gough, and brother George Fox, died before her. Mom is also predeceased by the five children of the first marriage of her father, George Shilliam Fox.
Mom was a cheerful, outgoing person who, as family members said, “never sat still.” She faced the difficulties life threw at her with a determined heart. She also liked to “stand up for the little guy.”
She worked full-time from her early twenties into her sixties. For 30 years she was the executive assistant to the owner of Vulcan Automotive Equipment, which remanufactures automobile engines and parts.
Mom was a founding member of The FM (Formerly Married) Club on the North Shore, where she soon met Eric. For 30 years the two organized scores of bowling parties, ping pong tournaments, golf games, ski trips, dances and dinners with their beloved club.
As world travellers, mom and Eric were particularly fond of visiting relatives in Wales and hosting them on the West Coast. As a mother and grandmother she was kind and engaging, making sure David and Doug’s childhood was filled with gatherings, activities and trips.
Mom’s life spanned an historic era. She was born the same year as Queen Elizabeth and died eight days after her. While her own self-awareness ended far too soon, we thank the staff at Inglewood Care Centre - and take comfort in remembering mom’s honourable and robust life.