Tribute

Avelina, was born in Roddickton, NL, on the Great Northern Penninsula, in 1947, before
Newfoundland joined Confederation. She was truly salt of the earth and will be dearly missed.

Life was hard growing up in a very remote coastal community. Avie’s tight knit family were all
hard workers, and she left school to work at a young age. Life was tough, but the Normans’
were tougher.

‘Avie’ moved to Labrador City and worked for HBC. Avie met Peter in Walbush, Peter was
apprenticing as a millwright at the Iron Ore Company of Canada. Their daughter Lee-Ann was
born in Labrador, before they moved West to Kitimat, BC, where their son Dan was born.

Just before Avie moved West, she flew East to Russia with friends to watch a famous Canadian
Russian hockey game series. Avie would later spend many more years at the Tamitik rink as a
hockey Mom watcing her son play hockey and socializing with the community.

In Kitimat, Avie worked once more for HBC, before her career at both the old and new Kitimat
General Hospital as Materials manager, and member of the HEU. Avie was very good at her
job, ordering, receiving and stocking all supplies for the hospital. She made many lovely life
long friendships at work, and in the community.

Avie enjoyed skiing, swimming, bowling and golfing. Many golfing friends will remember
celebrating a ‘hole in one’ more than once with Avie at the Hirsch Creek golf course.

Avie enjoyed fishing the Kitimat River with her girlfriends, often coming home with a 30-40 lb
salmon. Avie canned and smoked salmon, dug clams and cockles, crab and prawns, jigged for
halibut and lingcod. Pound for pound, Avie caught more fish than the men. Avie kept a boating
log and entries recounted the numerous fun fishing trips down the channel with friends aboard
the MV ‘Brenda Lee’ and later the ‘Go Easy’.

Although fishing and boating were a highlight of their retired days in Kitimat, it was the sincere
friendships that were made over the years that kept Avie and Peter there. The Ennis house was
a gathering place made welcome by Avie’s downhome hospitality. Avie loved food, music,
family and friends. The song ‘Music and Friends,’ by Simani sums it up.

The few tough years Avie spent at Mountain View Lodge after her stroke in 2014 were made
more comfortable by the excellent staff, numerous friendships and her stoic personality that
shone through adversity. Thanks to both MVL and ECU staff for their professional care.

Avie loved her grandchildren Charlotte, Sophia, Thomas and Charlie very much. Her last few
months in Powell River was quality time spent with her close family both in person and on
facetime.

Peter and family thank everyone for the outpouring of love and kindness, it has been very
heartwarming to hear from everyone. There will be no service at this time, we will get together
in the future to celebrate her beautiful life. In Avie’s memory, please pick up the phone and call
your family, friends and neighbours, stay connected, it will make a difference in these hard
times