Edith Louise James

The James family stock crashed this week with the loss of its matriarch Edith Louise James. Quietly and without fanfare on the evening of February 12 Louise slipped out of this world leaving behind a brokenheartedfamily to carry her memory forward.

As the only child of Harry and Maude Digby, Louise celebrated many of her 94 birthdays with gusto and most certainly with wine. Much wine.

It is without doubt a glass or two was shared upon the heavenly reunion of her husband Dr. Ken James, who was laid to rest in 2009.

Louise is celebrated by her three children, Fred (Suzanne) James, Susan (Dr. Herman) Kupeyan and Sandra (Claude) Imbt whose names passed over her lips more often than her own but possibly less than her grandchildren’snames, Michael (Emily) and Renee (Cesar), Kristen, MD (Chris, MD) and Calvin and David, MD, Ashley (Justin) and Lauren (Jason) whose life details were shared with dining companions, bus drivers, shopping clerks and anyone else with ears and time to listen.And if met with rebuttal that others round the table had grandkids too, she would soldier on upping the ante with tales of her great-grandchildren, Pippa and Finley, Aidan, Zoe and Jameson, Adrienne and Alexandra and Kaylin and Harper. And if you needed proof,she had the polaroids.

Whether she filled a destiny or grew into her name, Edith Louise certainly lived as the very definition of blessed beyond measure and a famous warrior whose strength of character was often described as wild anduntamed.

While the family may have collectively let out a breath of relief the day she handed over her car keys it most certainly did not keep Louise still. Be it a social event of cards and cocktails or a milestone celebrationyou better believe come cab, bus or plane she would be in attendance.

While her job may have been to transcribe her husband’s doctor notes, her career was made in having fun. Sun up meant rounds of golf, trips to the winery, a lap or two through the local dress shop and out to thelake where the laws of speed could be ignored and heeding the warning of ‘hang on tight’ was your best insurance for making it back to shore. And not even Clark Kent himself could rival her quick-change beach getup to country club dinner attire.

No stick nor stone ever broke a bone that kept her from cruising, travelling or wintering in Florida and you can call it her persistency - or let’s be frank, her stubborn will - that kept her moving forward becauseshe was sure that if you sat too long you just might not get up again.

Through her unyielding faith she saw this world as her playground and a chance to do good by spreading good. Cookies handed out at the back door to the neighbourhood kids was actually a thing as she lived ina time where you knew your next door neighbour’s neighbouring family and it was common practice to offer a ride to church in the morning.

To know Louise was to love Louise because her laugh was infectious, her energy unmatched as she was usually onto the next best thing when her phone call would abruptly end and her words came sincerely and withouteyes on you she would let you know, “You’re looking good Honey!” And I love you was dispensed in groupings of three.

We will continue to love you and miss you until we meet again Mom, Grandma, Nana, Louise and hear that ever familiar, nearly three syllable, sing song salutation of Heh...ll...ohhh.

Memorial Tributes to the Charity of Your Choice would be appreciated by the family