CLAIRE TOSHIKO CORLEY (MATSUO)

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CLAIRE TOSHIKO CORLEY (nee MATSUO) Following a brief illness, on August 7, 2008, Claire Toshiko Corley (nee Matsuo), aged 80 years, passed away at the Health Sciences Centre. Claire was predeceased by her husband, George Corley in 2006, parents (issei), Kozaburo and Shigeru Matsuo, siblings (nisei and kika-nisei), Mitsuo (Jim), Yasuo, Yasutoshi, Yoshiye, and Fujiko (Margaret Lahey). She is survived by her children (sansei) Donna Drake (Don), Bill (Carol Akerman), Carol Emerson, Jeff (Claire), Kathy Theriault (Charles), and Lawrence; grandchildren (yonsei) Jason (Denise), Justin, Michael, Lynne, John (Patty), Michael (Stacy), Jesse (Ashley), Trish, Calvin, Jeffrey, Genevieve, and Angelique; great-grandchildren Jaden, Jared, Jonathon, Merlyn, Serena, Christian, Madison, and Caipre; brother-in-law Fred Corley (Hazel), sister-in-law Frieda Melnick (John), and numerous nephews and nieces. Mom's parents came to Canada from Fukuoka-Ken, Japan. She was born in Stave Falls, BC, spent her early years in Haney, BC and moved to Manitoba in her teen years. In 1950 she married the love of her life, George Corley, and began raising a family. Throughout her life she was a talented gardener, seamstress, and baker. She was also a knowledgeable sports fan, and especially loved the Toronto Blue Jays. She had fond memories of the many friendships that she made while working at the Victoria General Hospital. In her later years she enjoyed bingo, trips to various casinos, visiting relatives across Canada, and a second honeymoon in Hawaii. We will remember Mom as a woman of quiet determination and guarded emotions who loved her family deeply and sincerely. She had a wry sense of humor and often surprised us by saying the darnedest things. She was easygoing, loved to laugh, and was a lot of fun to be around. With our Lahey cousins, we cherish our special memories of Mom and Aunt Marge reminiscing about their early years in British Columbia. Aunt Frieda's regular phone calls and visits were a comfort to Mom over the past two years in their shared loss of husband and brother. The family thanks the attending staff on ward GD4 at the Health Sciences Centre for their kind care in Mom's last days, and Dr. Wiseman who helped Mom manage her diabetes for so long. As requested by Claire, no formal funeral service will be held. A private family interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Claire's memory to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Birth and Death is a grave event; How transient is life! Every minute is to be grasped. Time waits for nobody. Rest in peace. We love you. KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 16, 2008