Tribute

INGRID MARGARETA KICKI FOWLIE (nee: Lundstedt) was born in Tranas, Sweden on November 24, 1912 and died in the Poppy Wing at Sunnybank Centre in Oliver on July 31, 2013 at the age of 100 years.  Ingrid was predeceased by George Smith Fowlie (1904 -1995) and their first son Baby Fowlie who was born and died 1943.

Ingrid is survived by her son George Fowlie  (Pamela) of Cultus Lake with their daughters Brenda Dornfield (Dale) and Robyn Bosman (Neil); and by her daughter Susan Odland (Ray) of Oliver with their daughters Anne Bell (Sean) and Dana Amos (Mike).

Ingrid left Sweden for Quebec in 1937 to help her ill sister for a year.  She applied for a second year and then had to stay longer as the start of the war prevented her travel home.  In 1941 she married the Scotsman George, aka the Hudson’s Bay Post Manager in Bersemis, Quebec  who had been charmed by this Swedish flicka at the previous Halloween dance.  In 1947 she visited Sweden to show off their toddler son.  She returned to Canada to the news that George had bought a partnership in a fur business in Prince Rupert.  They raised their two children in Rupert and when they sold their business in 1956 she helped George with building their new house as well as working in a gift shop for many years.

In 1967 they stopped in Oliver to visit friends and returned to Rupert to pack up and move to the retirement property they had bought on Tuc el Nuit Lake.  Again Ingrid was George’s partner in building a new home.

Ingrid and George were both known and loved for their hospitality.  Ingrid was a tireless volunteer for the Sunnybank Centre for more than 30 years.  She was well known for her baking talents that produced unique Swedish cookies and the countless pies that she generously gave away.  She was an avid bridge player well into her nineties.  While George grew enough vegetables to feed the neighbours she used her green thumb for the flowers she loved.  Most of all, “Mormor” lived for her granddaughters and later her great grandchildren whom she could never see often enough.  She kept them in beautifully hand knit sweaters to wrap them in love when she could not be with them with her own hugs.  Now Ingrid leaves a great legacy of courage and longevity to nine great grandchildren: Hayden and Blayne Dornfield; Elijah, India, Mattea and Xavier Bell; Brayden, Logan and Bryony Amos.

At Ingrid’s wish there will be no memorial service, just a private scattering of ashes.  Any memorial gifts would be welcomed by the Salvation Army, a charity that was close to the heart of Ingrid who grew up in poverty and never forgot their kindness when she was a child.