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Jan Simpson wrote these words -"Please hold hands with the people seated beside you and join me while we share this moment together, as friend's and family of Kim Wolfe and Elwyn Rowlands. It's good to be here to-day as we struggle to deal with this immense loss, and to try and celebrate Kim and Elwyn's very special lives. We are all looking for the unusual things...comfort, answers, purpose. Something to hold onto. A way to let them rest in peace. Mostly, we are devastated, and broken hearted over the passing of our beautiful friends and family members. Kim and Elwyns' spirits will live on throughout the years, because they have been blessed with having experienced the great joy, and love that comes from being devoted parents, who have adored and nurtured the most intelligent, caring, and wonderful children, I have had the pleasure of knowing. We should feel comforted in knowing that Jakob, Stacy and Cyrus are here to help us always remember and cherish these wonderful people. May God see their truly worthy souls, and bless them abundantly." Debbie, Kim's sister, read these words at the Memorial Service.During my hard times a few years ago, my friend Cheri sent me a card with a poem that touched me deeply. I'm sure alot of you have heard it before. It's called: Life's Little Instructions Sing in the Shower, Treat everyone you meet, like you want to be treated, Watch a sunrise at least once a year, Leave the toilet seat in the down position, Never refuse homemade brownies, Strive for Excellence, not Perfection, Plant a tree on your birthday, Learn three clean jokes, Return borrowed vehicles with the Gas Tank full, Compliment 3 people every day, Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them, Leave everything a little better than you found it, Keep it simple, Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures, Become the most positive & enthusiastic person you know, Floss you teeth, Ask for a raise, when you feel you've earned it, Be forgiving of yourself and others, Overtip breakfast waitresses, Say Thank-You alot - Say Please alot, Avoid negative people, Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards, Wear polished shoes, Remember other peoples birthdays, Commit yourself to constant improvements, Carry jumper cables in your trunk, Have a firm handshake, Send lots of Valentines cards, sign them, "Someone Who Thinks you're Terrific", Look people in the eye, Be the first to say hello, Use the good silver, Return all things you borrow, Make new friends, but cherish the old ones, Keep secrets, Sing in a choir, Plant flowers every spring, Have a dog, Always accept an outstretched hand, Stop blaming others & take responsibility for every area of your life, Wave at kids on school buses, Be there, when people need you, Feed a strangers expired parking meter, Don't expect life to be fair, Never underestimate the power of love, Drink champagne for no reason at all, Live your life an exclamation - not an explanation, Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake", Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know", Compliment even small improvements, Keep your promises, (no matter what), Marry only for love, Rekindle old friendships, Count your blessings, Call you mother. It would be great if life came with instructions but then there would be some that wouldn't read them, or follow them. Lastly, I'd like to thank Kim and Elwyn for making Jake, Stacy & Cyrus. Their resemblance to their parents is undeniable and I am grateful for that. When we look at them, we will always remember Kim and Elwyn. They are surrounded by love and people who care about them. Thank-you to everyone for all you've given those children over the past 11 years. You have all helped make them the beautiful little beings they are. I want to say to Kim and Elwyn to please rest easy, your children are in good hands. We will miss you. Ira Rowlands Read this for ElwynElwyn David Rowlands 1953-2002 More than half a century ago, Dave Rowlands traveled to Canada from South Wales and ended up in Lake Louise where he met Inga Semel who came to Canada from Germany having moved there originally from Lithuania. They married in Vancouver on February 29th, 1952 and were soon on a ship heading for Australia where Inga has family. They settled in a small town south of Sydney where Elwyn was born on January 22, 1953. Elwyn was just a toddler when he showed the taste for adventure that was to characterize his life. He wandered onto nearby train tracks and only the barking of the family dog alerted Dave and Inga of the need to save their young child. In 1956 the family moved back to Canada, going the long way around the world so Elwyn was very well traveled by the time he was 2 ½ years old. Elwyn started school at John Knox Christian school then went to public schools in Surrey until his graduation from Queen Elizabeth Secondary.The family's association with Whistler began in February 1968,when Dave and Inga purchased property in what is now called Creekside. Elwyn was 15 at the time and had started taking ski lessons on Seymour. This was the start of what was to be his life's passion. When the snow cleared at Whistler that spring, building started and Elwyn lived up there all summer splitting the shakes that are still on the cabin roof. He continued skiing and soon became very interest in jumping. When he was 18 there was a contest on the mountain and many skiers were doing forward somersaults. Elwyn tried, but landed on his head. Undeterred, on his second try he landed the first double at Whistler. After graduation Elwyn attended Douglas College for a year then set off for his first trip back to Australia then on to Indonesia. In Australia he ended up at the ski resort of Thredbo where he spent the winter living in the best hotel in the village (often with 10 or more to the room) and skiing every day, with a style that amazed the locals. Throughout all his travels Elwyn acquired many, many friends. People started showing up at the family home from all over the world. Friends in Australia, in particular, we know are thinking of us today and remembering the great effect Elwyn has had on their lives. But, back in Canada, Elwyn had to make a living and he chose, as his first career, real estate. This was perfect for Elwyn. He could meet people, travel, and had an excuse to live on the phone. When he was out of town as he so often was - and the phone started ringing with people asking for Elwyn we knew he was on his way home. The invention of cell phones could have been done with Elwyn in mind and he used the new technology to the max. Elwyn went travelling again in 1975 and this time, after Australia, he flew across Russia and stayed with numerous relatives in Germany, England and Wales. He also spent time skiing in the alps of Austria. When Elwyn came back to Canada he purchased land in Surrey and built his first house. He became well known for his full moon parties and his circle of friends expanded even more. In 1980 Elwyn had a motorcycle accident in which his back was broken. The doctors said he probably wouldn't ski again and although he lived with the pain he proved them all wrong and remained famous at Whistler for his skiing abilities and feats of daring. Over the years, Elwyn lived in various places in the lower mainland and the Okanagan. He took up hang gliding and flying and once survived a big crash in a small plane to turn up at a party at Whistler a few hours later. Meanwhile, Elwyn was developing his exceptional skill as a photographer. Naturally, much of his work was photographing skiing and the mountains and he tried to never miss a Winter Olympics. But he also took wonderful photographs of rock concerts and his ability to capture a moment when the lighting was perfect created some memorable and enduring images. Elwyn was too keen to share his images to make much money from photography he tended to give away more photographs than he sold. His last trip to Australia, the land of his birth, was in 2000 to photograph the Sydney Olympics. Elwyn met Kim Wolfe through her sister Debbie. They lived at the Rowland¹s family cabin for five years during which time Jakob was born on Nov. 8th, 1990 in Squamish and later Stacy on July 20th, 1992 at Whistler. Elwyn and Kim bought property past Mt Currie at Owl Ridge and lived there for a time before moving back to Whistler. He simply couldn't stay away from the mountain that he loved and the good friends that they had there. Cyrus was born on Oct 4th 1997 and Elwyn started building his dream home soon after. We all watched with fascination while Elwyn built a huge, unique house out of virtually nothing. Doing work himself, finding materials, friends helping; it was his castle. Through it all Elwyn kept skiing and he made sure that his children learned to ski as well. He was proud of Jakob and Stacy's abilities and encouraged them both. They didn't give up trying to keep up to him on the top-to-bottom runs. He carried Cyrus in a backpack while they toured all over the mountain. Those days may best summaries Elwyn¹s life on skis, at Whistler, with his children. Elwyn will be remembered by his family as a son, brother, and father who chose to live his life in a large way, grabbing every experience he could. He was never dull and many of his exploits will live on in legend. He came from a loving home and he passed that love on to his children. They were the most important elements in his life and he had good cause to be proud of them. As Chi Chi pointed out to us over the past hectic few days, there are a few lines from a Terry Jacks song called "Season's in the Sun" that say: "Good bye papa, I have to go. I was the black sheep of the family, you tried to teach me right from wrong, too much wine, too much song. Wonder how I got along" Elwyn was our black sheep. We loved him because of it and we loved him in spite of it. He wasn't easy to have as a sibling but he made sure our lives were never boring. We¹re all aware of the void that has opened up now he has gone. The Rowlands Family |
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