Obituary of Julia Cecilia Edwina Crawford
CRAWFORD, Julia Cecilia Edwina – At University Hospital, on Monday, June 12th, 2017, surrounded by her loving family, Julia Crawford of London, died at the age of 79, following a sudden illness. Born May 31, 1938 in Essex, England, and raised in Enniskillen, Ireland, the eldest daughter of the late Jack Crawford and Alice Elliott.
At the tender age of 19, Julia travelled the great Atlantic inviting new adventure and promising opportunities into her life. She met a Canadian soldier, Kenneth Laverne Lee, and welcomed five sons into the world. In motherhood, Julia found her purpose passing down a piece of her legacy and bold Irish heritage in each of her charming, adventurous and brazen boys. The very qualities Julia emanated in life inherited uniquely in each son, who became men of great talent and ambition.
Julia was also a woman of remarkable strength and resourcefulness. Amidst the calamity of raising five young rabble-rousers she found the time, the energy and the devotion to excel in her studies and become a Registered Nurses Assistant (RNA).
A mother, a friend and a professional woman, Julia was unstoppable, exuding a confidence and a drive that her colleagues and, most certainly, her family could turn to in times of need and lean on in need of strength and compassion.
But her joie de vivre, her one meaningful purpose and the true love that put the skip in her step, the melody in her song and the shine in her ocean blue eyes was Richard (Dick) Huard. Together, Dick and his “Enniskillin Girl” became an inseparable team, deeply devoted to one another sharing adventures as they travelled extensively to visit friends and relatives.
Julia is survived by Dick, her loving partner of 30 years, sons Doug (spouse Sharon) of Charleston, South Carolina; Gavin (spouse Mary) of Comox, BC; Stephen (spouse Susan) of Mississauga, ON; Jason of Fort St. John, BC; and Ryan (partner Jenna) of Toronto, along with six grandchildren Jessica, Casandra, Kelsey, Gillian, Zach, and Nate and three great-grandchildren Cadyn, Chase and Reid; her younger sister Jacqui and niece Erin Whiley of Norwich, England.
On her extended Huard family, she is survived by Jack, Jeff (spouse Janice), Jenny (spouse Mike), and Joanne (spouse Adam); grandchildren Calvin, Amelia, Dustin (spouse Nikki) and Danielle, and great-grandchildren Breonna and Georgia.
A Celebration of Life will be held at WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, on Sunday, June 18th, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation from 12:00 -2:00 p.m. Light refreshments will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks donations be considered for Parkwood Hospital where Julia worked for 26 years before retiring in 2002. For information and online condolences please visit www.westviewfuneralchapel.com
