Obituary of Charmaine Marie Lowden

A wonderful chapter has closed for the Lowden family with the passing of our beloved Mom, Charmaine Lowden.  Charmaine was born at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, BC.  Her mother Elvera was a schoolteacher and her father Roy worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway.  Charmaine spent her childhood with her brother Garry in Port Coquitlam and West Vancouver.  Growing up, she loved to go out on the water in the family’s small boat, and for all her life she had a love of being by the ocean.  The family attended West Vancouver Baptist Church.  For Charmaine, one of the highlights of these years was going to Keats Island Camp in the summers.

Charmaine trained as a nurse at St. Paul’s and graduated in 1951.  She was class president and class valedictorian, and the winner of the Canadian Nurses Association award.

In 1952, Charmaine married Dr. Arnold Lowden, a dashing medical intern at St. Paul’s, and the young couple moved to Saskatchewan.  They started in Gull Lake, where Arnold worked with Dr. John Matheson, whose family became lifelong friends.  The next decade brought moves to Toronto and back to Saskatchewan, where Arnold and Charmaine settled in Moose Jaw in 1960.  In 1966, Arnold brought Charmaine back to BC, moving their young family to Penticton.  In 1977, they established roots in Cranbrook.

In her valedictory address at her nursing grad, Charmaine exhorted her classmates to adhere to the school motto, “Enter to learn; Go forth to do good.”  Charmaine lived out those values all her days.  She sought to make a difference in the lives of others, particularly through her faith.  Charmaine led many Ladies Bible studies through the years, and served in church leadership as a Deaconess and Elder.  She placed a high value on connecting with other women, encouraging young people, and spending time in prayer.  Many people will remember Charmaine’s wise counsel or words of encouragement given at just the right time.  Charmaine walked with her Lord and Saviour and helped others to do the same.

Charmaine loved our family deeply and was happiest when she had the family around her at our gathering each summer in Cranbrook.  She always made sure everyone was included and knew how much she cared for them.  And every card and gift Charmaine gave was accompanied by a memorable quote from her extensive collection.

Charmaine was pre-deceased by her husband Arnold, her parents Roy and Elvera Gruchy, and her brother Garry Patterson.  She is survived by her children Bruce (Lolita), Keith (Carla), Launny Brian (David); her grandchildren Sammy (Brian), Matthew (Chelsey), Launny (Jake), Josh (Jenelle), Jules, Gracie, and Sophie; and her great-grandchildren Lily, Tessa, Grey, Elwood, William, Jaxson, Oakley, and Kai.

The family would like to thank the F. W. Green Clinic physicians and the staff of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital, who cared for Mom so well during her last days.  A celebration of Charmaine’s life will be held on Saturday, March 25, 3:00 pm at First Baptist Church, Cranbrook, with a reception to follow.    Arrangements have been entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services.  Condolences can be offered at www.mcphersonfh.com, and a link to the livestream of the service will be available there also.  To honour Charmaine, please consider a donation to Covenant House of Vancouver, or Young Life of Cranbrook.