EDNA CHRISTIE COULING

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EDNA CHRISTIE COULING July 2, 1932 - June 18, 2013 We're very sad to announce that Edna Christie Couling passed away quietly at Langley Memorial Hospital on June 18, 2013. Edna bravely battled numerous health issues during the latter years of her life - including the recent loss of most of her vision - and her condition deteriorated rapidly as a result of complications from a bad fall on June 1. She was born in the small Saskatchewan town of Kerrobert, where her pioneer father opened a tent store in 1910 and later helped to build and then religiously attended the town's first United Church. This made Edna endlessly proud of her family, faith and prairie roots - and she loved the good-natured teasing that eventually came from being a vocal Riders football fan! With her caring nature and warm personality, Little Ed' seemed born to nurse and help others throughout her 80 years. She left Saskatchewan to begin training at the Salvation Army's Grace General Hospital in Winnipeg back in 1950 - and shortly after graduating as a Registered Nurse - she married her husband of 59 years, Stewart Jack' Couling. Edna and Jack became the very proud parents of Gord (and his wife Rose-Marie), Sandie (and her husband Ron) and Ted (and his wife Jackie) and they absolutely cherished their grandchildren Ryan, Jeff, Jillian and Trevor. Jack's career took the Couling clan from Winnipeg to Coquitlam, Toronto, Altona, back to Winnipeg and then to Sidney on Vancouver Island before retirement in 1995. Jack and Edna then moved to Langley in 1996, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. This made Edna a relocation and networking expert' as well as a fun-loving friend, nurse, babysitter, confidante and surrogate grandma to many people she met across Canada. Predeceased by her parents William Burt' and Edna Olive (Cooper) Sample and her beloved brother Ted Sample, Edna is survived by her big brother' Rod Sample of Victoria and her only sister Joan Keating of Sechelt. The Couling family would like to thank Dr. Dan MacIntosh and the nursing staff at Langley Memorial Hospital for helping to make Edna's final days more comfortable. We take great comfort in knowing that she is now free from her broken body and has joined her parents, brother and others that she missed so much. On Edna's birthday of Tuesday, July 2, an Interment will be held at 11:00 a.m. for immediate family at Valley View Memorial Gardens (14660 - 72nd Ave. in Surrey) and a "Celebration of Edna's Life" will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the Cariboo Hill Temple (7195 Cariboo Road in Burnaby). In lieu of flowers, a donation would be appreciated for either the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. & Yukon or the B.C. Cancer Foundation.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 27, 2013