Evon Cook

If light is in your heart you will find your way home. - Rumi A life’s beautiful journey completed on January 16th, 2020. After 94 years among us, the soul of Evon Dorothy Cook (nee Sivyer) found her way home. One of four children, Evon’s journey began May 3rd, 1925, to parents Hannah (Skinner) and Jack Sivyer, in Uckfield, England. There, in the Sussex countryside, she created childhood memories with her sisters, Winnie (Sivyer), Maude (Bunce), and her brother, Doug Sivyer. In November of 1942, at the age of 17, she enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, 207 Squadron, Lancaster 5 Group. Wartime eventually led her to Private Harold Raymond Cook of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, whom she met at a dance during leave. And two years after, on November 3, 1945, they married at Christ Church in Paddington, London. But their life together didn’t truly begin until Evon boarded the Aquatania for Halifax, Canada, where she continued her journey by train to her and Raymond’s small farm in Glass, Manitoba. Farm life, as well as living in a new country many miles from her family, was no doubt a challenge. Yet, they welcomed more adventures together with the birth of four magnificent girls; Sally (Colomy) on May 28, 1948; Kathleen (Redmond) on September 13, 1951; Bonnie (Chalmers) on May 27, 1953; and Jennifer Cook, on December 31, 1956. She had a knack for making Christmas fun, with gifts and Christmas crackers and a special meal with crowns. She also beautifully sang many old war songs, and loved knitting, painting, flowers, gardening, birds, reading, and laughter. Seven wonderful grandchildren eventually joined her life’s journey and changed her name to Nan: Sheri (Habing); Darren Colomy; Nicole Colomy (Ron and Sally); Raelyn Chalmers; Alana Chalmers (Bonnie and Pete); Jessica Redmond; and Shane Redmond (Kathy and Reg). Nan’s family continued to grow and expand and she graduated from grandmother to great grandmother when Sheri and Jason Habing brought her three loves—Nicole, Cassandra, and Aurora. Darren brought more love with Marissa. Raelyn Chalmers brought even more love with Hannah, Clara, Ava and recent arrival of Deklyn (Joe Muldoon). And Shane and Megan Redmond gave her another love, John. We are grateful to Kin Place PCH for the kindness, respect and care they gave to her. Evon’s interment will be announced later in 2020. Our lives are full of challenges, moving moments, and soul strengthening adventures. We are each wonderful works in progress, regardless of the warts, bumps, and emotional scars we may carry. Upon reflection and with the love she gifted us, we can see the beauty of Evon’s soul and the splashes of her life’s colour that spilled over us, making us who we are today—love filled miracles! Life is a balance between holding on and letting go. - Rumi