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Cecelia Margaret Evylin Halbauer (nee McDermott)

Cecelia Margaret Evylin Halbauer (nee McDermott)

Born: August 5th, 1940

Passed on: June 19th, 2015

On the afternoon of June 19th, 2015, Cecelia quietly passed away after a brief battle with cancer in the Blueberry Wing of the Overlander Residential Care Hospital, Kamloops, B.C. with her beloved husband Adolph by her side.

Cecelia, who was mostly known as Cec, was born at home in the small farming community of Notikewin, Alberta on August 5, 1940. She was the seventh of eight children, 4 of them girls, 4 of them boys, born to Henry & Annie McDermott.

Cecelia's early years were largely spent helping her Mother and siblings run the farm. She attended Rosary Catholic School in Manning, Alberta, graduating grade twelve as the class Valedictorian. After graduation, Cec for a brief period of time lived with her sister Pat and worked as a waitress in Peace River, moving to Dawson Creek in 1960 when she found a job with the Bank of Montreal.

At the age of 16, Cec's brother Floyd introduced her to a young man by the name of Blair Simcoe with whom she eventually married. They were married in North Star, Alberta, November 25, 1961, making their home in Dawson Creek, B.C. Her first son Alan was born on May 5th, 1968; her second son Dennis born August 14, 1972.

Cecelia was a busy mother, juggling motherhood responsibilities with full time work, having employment at various banks, the business of Wilson and Patterson, B.C. Tel and Wrights Cold Storage. During this time she also took various courses at Northern Lights College, spending her leisure time with her family camping and snowmobiling and at their lake lot on Swan Lake. She and Blair divorced in 1984.

Cecelia became an active member of the Legion and the Ladies auxiliary. She was a determined lady and realized a dream for herself and her sons, taking them on a bus trip to California and Disneyland.
In the summer of 1986, Cecelia met a wonderful man, Adolph Halbauer while he was working in Dawson Creek. After a three year courtship she married Adolph in an intimate setting at her sister Theresa Amundsen's home in Chetwynd, B.C., October 7th, 1989. The two moved to Chilliwack, B.C., living there until 1991. In 1992, with a desire for sunshine and a slower pace of life, Cec and Adolph moved to Savona, B.C. where she lived until her death.

Cecelia had an incredible thirst for knowledge. Throughout her life she continually challenged herself, taking courses in the fields of gas and welding, automotive parts, and bookkeeping. She was not intimidated by the electronic world, purchasing most of what Apple or Microsoft introduced to the marketplace. Alan recalls being one of the first owners of a Commodore 64 computer. She sewed and knitted, crocheted and quilted. She canned Adolph's garden bounty, baked and crafted. While living in Savona she thoroughly enjoyed working with the Thompson North Regional District in the Library system, was very active with the seniors group, was a member of the Players Guild, attended fitness classes and enjoyed carpet bowling. She loved to accompany Adolph on his many fishing trips, hunting and berry picking adventures.

Alan and Dennis were her biggest joy. She was incredibly proud of them. Her love and happiness grew even more when her sons married, finding her two wonderful daughters-in-law, Sandy and Nicole, and giving her five beautiful grandchildren, Lucas, Jonathan, Benjamin, Brooke and Jordan. Adolph said one of the happiest days of her life was when she found out she would be a Grandma. She and Adolph logged many miles travelling between their home and the homes of Alan and Dennis in Alberta, making sure to try to attend as many birthday celebrations, Thanksgivings and Christmases as possible. Grandma Cec was lovingly referred to as Grandma Gadget, or Grandma Fix It. If anything needed repair Grandma would fix it and would always have that unusual gadget, usually in her purse. Above all, Grandma Cec adored her grandchildren and would do anything she could to spend time with them.

Cecelia had a very kind and generous heart. She had a genuine interest in the lives of people she cared for and would often go out of her way to selflessly help. Her presence in a room didn't go unnoticed and her laughter was contagious. She will be greatly missed by all of the lives she touched.

Cecelia was preceded in death by her brothers, Dale McDermott, Edward McDermott and Mervin McDermott; brothers-in-law Albert Halbauer, Bob Halbauer, Matthew Halbauer; sister-in-law Alvina (Gerhart) Hubeck and her parents, Henry McDermott and Annie McDermott.

Cecelia is survived by her husband Adolph Halbauer; her brother Floyd McDermott; sisters Patricia Glasser, Mary McKay, Theresa Amundsen (Gary Amundsen); brothers-in-law, Alvin Halbauer (Beverley), Lorne Halbauer (Sylvia); deceased brother-in-law Albert's wife Denise Halbauer and deceased brother-in-law Matthew's wife June Halbauer; children and grandchildren Alan and (Sandy) Simcoe and their children Lucas, Jonathan and Benjamin; Dennis and (Nicole) Simcoe and their children Brooke and Jordan; stepchildren Noreen Sexton (Tony), David and (Georgia) Halbauer, Bob Halbauer and Keith Halbauer; stepgrandchildren Andrew, Shelley and Eileen Sexton; niece Rhonda (Brad) Farnsworth, and many other nieces and nephews and friends.

A remembrance and celebration of Cecelia's life will be held at
1pm, Saturday, July 11, 2015 at the Savona Seniors Hall,
6605 Buie Road/Savona Access Road, Savona, B.C.
Interment of her ashes will follow at the Savona Gravesite.

Expressions of sympathy may be made in Cecelia's name to the Canadian Cancer Society.

A special thank you to the staff and caregivers of the Overlander Residential Care Hospital, Blueberry Wing, Kamloops. B.C.

 

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