Charlotte Elizabeth Moffat

Early morning February 21 2017, Charlotte passed away in her sleep at Purdy Pavillion adjacent to UBC hospital in Vancouver.

Born in Toronto Aug 15 1930, she led an active lifetime.

Up until the last six months, she remained fiercely independent.

Sadly missed by Peter (Julie), Pamela (David), much loved grandchildren,Clay,Jennifer (Nick), James and Lloyd, great grandsons Nate and Devon, niece Michelle (Mike and sons Jake and Peter), nephews Steve and Paul, and her life long friends Gloria, Helen and Mina, and later Beth,Pat,Joan.

Thankful for the close Vancouver friendship with Maggie, Isobel, Mary Lou, and many more.

Many thanks to the VGH and UBC Purdy Pavilion Staff.

Charlotte wished to be interned at Park Lawn Cemetery in Toronto with her parents..

A celebration of life will be held in Toronto this summer (date TBA). A private Celebration of Life for family and friends in Vancouver on Saturday, April 1st. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Red Cross in Charlotte's name.

Charlotte led a very active life, downhill skiing with her son, snowshoeing in Muskoka with Pat, and walking one of her beloved dogs, caring for the humming birds, swimming with Pam at the cottage, Tai Chi with Gloria, travelling to Greece, Mexico, Nassau, Portugal, Florida, and Hawaii. She flew with her son when he piloted jet cargo aircraft across Canada and the US. She was comfortable driving would go almost anywhere, any time, especially for family and friends.

Charlotte was born and raised in Toronto with sister Maxine whose immigrant parents (Charlotte and Max) fled Dresden, Germany in the late 1920’s settling in Toronto after travelling through Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, and the Eastern

US.

Charlotte attended Dovercourt Public School, graduating from Western Technical School in 1948 as a stenographer secretary. While attending Western she met her future husband Stanley Moffat. In ’53 and ’56, Peter, and Pam arrived and were raised in a home they built in an area of Toronto then known as The Village of Swansea.

With Pam in kindergarden, Charlotte returned to work part time while raising her two children. She remained in the workforce working for various small companies performing her clerical duties until the late 60’s then began working full time for the Toronto School board Jan 1970. Initially in various school libraries then later promoted as school office secretary. Her first school was Jessie Ketchum, followed by Parkdale Public School, Blythwood and Withrow, where she retired in Jan 1994.

After separating from Stan in 1976 she lived in various parts of Toronto from Etobicoke, Leaside to south Swansea, eventually retiring to King City with boyfriend Bob. After a couple of years they moved to Elliott Lake where Charlotte was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, a now treatable form of cancer of the bone marrow.

Charlotte moved to Gravenhurst, Muskoka to access better health care and live closer to her summer cottage. After Bob passed, Charlotte, wanting to be near her son and his family, announced she was moving to Vancouver. She settled into a small condo with dog Sam, purchased a car set out to explore her new city.

Within the year, Charlotte had a hip replacement, a procedure she’d been refused in Muskoka giving her the ability to get around without pain. Always friendly, Charlotte made quick close friends through the Dunbar Community Centre while attending fitness classes. Many thanks to her Dunbar instructor —— who desperately tried to get her back into class after pain settled into her back, spine and other hip.

She slowly began to loose her drive, needing more daily help in her home. In her last year she declined rapidly, venturing out only for doctor appointments, lab visits, and family celebrations. Ever optimistic she hoped to regain her health and invited Pam to visit. Pam helped her with her daily walks and exercises, provided company, and cooking her healthy meals, but towards the end of September 2016 Charlotte experienced compounding complications and complained of difficulty breathing.

Oct 2016 was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital Emergency and placed under critical care for 48 hours. The doctors were not confident of her prognosis initially. After two and a half weeks and daily visits from family and friends she rebounded but was visibly changed and weak when discharged early Thanksgiving weekend.

Four days later Charlotte was rushed back to VGH Emergency where she stabilized enough over the next three weeks returning home to full time home care. Afterwards Charlotte was placed in Purdy Pavillion Senior Home, where her son, close family and friends visited daily. Five days before her passing, Charlotte experienced a 7 am fall from bed and her condition deteriorated rapidly. She continued to have caring people at her side until she passed.

Charlotte’s kindness, generosity and loyalty will be missed by many and not forgotten by those who loved her.

Arrangements under the direction of First Memorial Funeral Services, Vancouver, BC.