Vicki Rowe
November 14, 1922 – April 30, 2011
Mom passed away with family at her side, and will always be in the thoughts and memories of her many friends and loved ones. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Stan Rowe, as well as daughter Cynthia (Greg) and sons James (Janelle) and Talesyn (Jake & Sadie) and grandchildren Daniel and Taylor. Mom is also survived by her siblings Connie, Mili, Stephanie, Joanne and Jim.
This dearest of ladies was born Vicki Koshure and grew up one of 13 children on a farm near Edmonton, Alberta. Always a very literate person with a talent for languages and a passion for poetry and writing, Vicki loved the newspaper business, working first for the Edmonton Journal and later for the Vancouver Sun during the 1950’s. Her children and grandchildren were gifted with wonderful stories of growing up on a family farm in the 20’s and 30’s, as well as colourful tales of working in the Sun Tower in the exciting days of cutthroat competition between the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers prior to the Pacific Press merger.
Vicki met the love of her life, ex-Calgarian Stan Rowe, in Vancouver. They were wed in 1955 and spent a few years travelling abroad before deciding to settle back in Vancouver, where three children arrived in quick succession. The family moved out east in 1967 where Vicki loved every minute of the eight years spent being a model suburban mom in Toronto, juggling the house and kids and still finding time for entertaining, tennis and guitar lessons, and antique-hunting trips with “the girls”. Mom and Dad threw the swinging-est parties in the neighbourhood! Mom was also wonderfully selfless in ferrying carloads of youngsters around to scout trips, soccer games, and horse shows.
In 1975 the Rowes moved back home to BC and enjoyed a small acreage and horses on Panorama Ridge in Surrey for a few years, before making the big move up to Ashcroft when they took over the old Bar Q Guest Ranch, renaming it Sundance after Stan’s old business.
For the next 25 years, Mom aka “Rawhide”, was the heart and soul of Sundance Guest Ranch, charming guests and staff alike with her sunny disposition and unmatchable warmth, kindness and sense of fun. She made everyone with whom she came in contact feel special.
Mom loved: Ivanhoe and The Highwayman, Elvis and CCR, Four Strong Winds and Me & Bobby McGee, On The Buses, the New York Times crossword, hockey, bagpipes, Stan’s garlic prawns, jive dancing, downhill skiing, Spain, Gibsons Finest & ginger ale in the lounge and riding her favourite horses Dolly, Twister and Faline. Most of all, she loved her family and many friends who will always treasure her memory.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Ashcroft Long Term Care Garden Oasis for their loving care of Mom in her last years.
No service by request. A Celebration of Life will take place in October, Mom’s favourite month.