Date of Death: March 30, 2023
Age: 94
Date of Birth: March 29, 1929
Celebration of Life: was held at First Memorial Funeral services, Burkeview Chapel, 1340 Dominion Ave., Port Coquitlam, BC., V3B 8G7 at 11:00 am on April 14, 2023. Lavina would have wanted donations to go to your local food bank in lieu of flowers. The Food Bank at Trinity is run by SHARE Family and Community Services.
To View Video of her Memorial: CLICK HERE
Memory from Trinity: Lavina Shaw was a long-standing and very active member of Trinity. In the recent past, she talked to children at Camp Spirit about Morse Code, as that was one of her jobs as a young woman, and she made it fun for them. She was also a member of the UCW’s Friendship Unit.
To call Lavina a “Doer” would be an understatement. She was very involved in Trinity’s Communication & Outreach Committee. She was part of the group who showed documentaries (at church but open to the public) about a variety of justice issues, including an unlikely partnership of a pastor and an Imam; about low wages and poor working conditions in countries where Canada buys cheap goods; about why the electric car industry fizzled out a couple of decades ago; about Al Gore’s warning about global warming; and many others.
However, I think the issue closest to her heart was about Palestinians living for decades behind high walls with gates that are Israeli military checkpoints in some cities in Israel and in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian travel between their cities is severely restricted by the State of Israel and many of their people are still being shot and killed every month. I remember she had some Palestinian olive oil we could buy to support this industry and these people. Some Palestinians (mainly in Bethlehem) are Christians. Lavina was a great communicator, educator, and an enthusiastic justice seeker - an amazing woman! - and she is greatly missed by all of us.
Obituary: Lavina Shaw passed away peacefully in Eagle Ridge Hospital, Port Moody, BC on March 30, 2023. It was the day after her 94th birthday.
Lavina was born March 29, 1929 in Ethelbert, Manitoba to Olive and Willard Mc Phedrain who founded the Canadian company, Mary Maxim.Lavina married Earl Shaw September 24, 1949. They were married a month short of 60 years when Earl passed on. Lavina and Earl had 2 daughters. Daughter Lenora Crane (Miles) has two daughters Nancy Sommerfeld (Eric) children Iris and Ruby and Kim Roger (Brad), children Maeve. Daughter Brenda Shaw has a daughter Raquel Boucher and son, Mason Boucher.
Lavina worked for CP and CN as a telegraph operator and then supporting the family businesses of Mary Maxim and Parkspin . Later she completed 25 years as a medical secretary at St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. Lavina was an active member of the St. Mark’s United church in St. Thomas, ON and Trinity United in Port Coquitlam, BC.
Lavina was constantly doing works to help others locally in the food bank and through world organizations. She had a love for learning and read extensively.Her passion was always railway and telegraphy. Lavina was the first Canadian and woman to be president of the International Morse Telegraph association.
She was active in the organization travelling the world to meetings and promoting the history of telegraph through many displays and demonstrations across Canada and the USA.She lived in Mayfair Place, senior’s residence in Port Coquitlam her last 5 years where she is fondly remembered by many staff and residents.
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