Between Us Fall 2017 A Lifetime Together By Peter McKinnon he latest chapter in the remarkable lives of Louise and Charlie Beddoe began earlier this year with a move into the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ THealth Centre. Although they didn’t go far – their home was on the street immediately north of the Perley Rideau campus – it was their first move in 58 years. Louise Mona Fitzgerald arrived in the world in 1926 in Quebec City. Like many in her family, she worked in the business founded by her maternal grandfather, Henry Ross. In the 1890s, Ross employed residents of a nearby First Nation band in the production of moccasins, snowshoes and canoes. As a young woman, Louise worked as bookkeeper. In the summer of 1954, Louise was invited by an aunt to visit her at her home in the Gatineau Hills. There, Louise met Charlie, who proposed within a few days. “I think we were both a little desperate,” jokes Charlie. “Louise was 28 and I was 34. “She was an Anglican living in a predominantly Catholic community at Charles Beddoe, a time when mixed marriages were troublesome.” combat cameraman See page 3 A Gift for Life BU Contents By Peter McKinnon 2 Daniel Clapin column uring a decades-long career in nursing and education, Marni Crossley 6 Fathers, Sons, Veterans had many experiences with end-of-life care. She recognizes that all of them helped her to grow both professionally and spiritually. This 7 A Family Connection D is particularly true for her husband’s end-of-life journey at the Perley Rideau International Women's Day 7 Veterans’ Health Centre. The exceptional care she and her husband received 10 Why I Volunteer during his final months there inspired Marni to leave a gift in her will to the 11 Akos Hoffer column Perley Rideau Foundation. 14 Doug Brouseau “I want to see the great work they do continue,” Marni Crossley says simply. 14 Fashion Show/Business Showcase Marni was born Margaret Isobel Anfield into a wonderful Christian family 15 Why I Donate in Alert Bay, a tiny island community off the east coast of Vancouver Island. 15 Night at the Races Her mother was a registered nurse; her father was principal of St. Michael’s 16 Memorial Tributes Residential School. The family lived in several B.C. communities during Marni’s childhood before settling in Vancouver. Marni graduated from Vancouver General Hospital’s School of Nursing in 1963 and began a career suspended See page 12 The Perley Rideau Difference www.perleyrideau.ca By Daniel Clapin, ACFRE, Executive Director The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation s we prepared this issue environment that they so richly Guest House provides respite care of Between Us, a comment deserve. for people with early to mid-stage Afrom Marni Crossley (page A positive, stimulating dementia. Residents have ready 1) caught my eye. Marni’s husband environment, along with access to everything they need to Richard spent the final few months exceptional, personalized care, are thrive: from creative arts studios and of his life at the Perley and Rideau what set the Perley Rideau apart. therapy programs, to a hair salon, Veterans’ Health Centre, including They are also the reason that the pub and medical-specialty clinics. a few weeks in palliative care. The Perley Rideau enjoys such strong The Foundation regularly takes quality of care she and Richard support from the community. potential Board members, donors received inspired Marni to include Thousands of people donate to the and potential donors on what the Perley Rideau in her will. “I Foundation each year. In 2016, more we call “seeing is believing” tours. want to see the great work they do than 390 volunteers contributed a Invariably, people who take the tour continue,” Marni Crossley said simply. total of more than 38,000 hours of quickly recognize just how special The reason I find her comment their time. Each and every donor and this place truly is and choose to striking is that Marni devoted volunteer makes a difference in the become a part of it by volunteering much of her career in nursing and lives of our residents. or by donating to the Foundation. education to palliative care. She has This kind of support enables And with each new supporter, the expertise needed to recognize the Perley Rideau to not only the Perley Rideau becomes better truly exceptional care and the deliver exceptional care, but also to able to deliver the exceptional, compassion to support it. continually improve the quality of personalized care that is its hallmark. I’m no expert in care – palliative care delivered within these walls. Every donation – regardless of or otherwise – but every day I see The Perley Rideau is increasingly amount – makes a difference and is the difference exceptional care recognized as a centre for innovation always appreciated. In the heartfelt makes reflected in the smiles of in long-term care. One of the latest words of Marni Crossley, “I want to our residents, in the art they create examples is a partnership with see the great work they do continue.” and in the songs they sing. That’s the Registered Nurses Association why I donate to the Perley Rideau of Ontario (RNAO) that will see Foundation – because it improves the Perley Rideau implement and their quality of life. Donations to document the impacts of best The Perley Rideau Seniors the Foundation pay for many of the practices in care. And a partnership Village is comprised of a 450-bed long-term care centre (including therapeutic items and recreational with Algonquin College enables 250 beds for veterans), 139 activities that make our residents Personal Support Workers to study specially designed seniors apartments and community feel at home – the so-called extras and serve practicums at the Perley health care services. not covered by government. The Rideau. We appreciate your support Foundation also contributes to The Perley Rideau is a unique in making a bequest in your will and/or making a donation the cost of volunteer programs. I and caring community. The Health Please contact Daniel Clapin describe this as “life-giving support,” Centre is home to 450 people, The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health because it ensures that Canada’s including 250 Veterans. The Seniors Centre Foundation Veterans, along with other residents, Village features 139 apartments 1750 Russell Road, can live out their final years in the offering a range of independent- Ottawa ON K1G 5Z6 Email: [email protected] comfortable, caring and stimulating living options. The 12-bedroom Internet: www.perleyrideau.ca 2 • Between Us • Fall 2017 A Lifetime Together ... continued from page 1 They married the following year and celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in 2017. Born Charles Emile Beddoe in Ottawa in 1920, Charlie has enjoyed a storied life. As a seven year-old, his father took him to see Charles Lindberg, who launched his international Spirit of St. Louis tour in Ottawa. For 25 cents, spectators could take a short ride in a biplane – a double- cockpit Avro Avian. Charlie still remembers the thrill of flying while seated on his father’s knee. Alan Beddoe, Charlie’s father, served in World War I and was held in prisoner-of-war camps for more than two years. Alan’s wartime service inspired Charlie to join the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War. For the next five years, Charlie travelled from Trinidad to Murmansk and served in a variety of roles, including Combat Cameraman. On the morning of D-Day, he filmed the assault by Canadian troops tensely heading for Juno Beach. “My wartime service wasn’t so exciting at the start” recalls Charlie. “My first assignment was delivering messages to senior staff at headquarters. To pass the time, I studied photography. This caught the eye of some senior officers, Charles Beddoe in his Royal Canadian Navy uniform who told me photography would early-morning photograph of delivered personally to Admiral be increasingly important to the Intelligence Section’s large wall Nelles, Chief of Naval Staff, and to war effort.” map of Atlantic operations. The Captain Brand, Director of Naval After his time at HQ, Charlie top-secret map showed the Intelligence. served as a gunner and ship’s current position of every ship, As the war continued, photographer aboard HMCS convoy, Nazi submarine and Charlie’s assignments became Prince David before training at sinking. He would process the more dangerous. While posted RCAF Photo School. One of his negative and destroy it after in London, he experienced Nazi assignments was to take an making two prints, which he bombing raids, and later narrowly Fall 2017 • Between Us • 3 missed falling victim to V1 buzz and V2 rocket bombs. In April 1944, Charlie was off the French coast aboard HMCS Haida during an attack on two Nazi destroyers trying to slip the Allied blockade. It was the middle of the night and too dark to capture much on film. Although one Nazi ship was destroyed, Charlie watched helplessly as the HMCS exploded and sank, claiming more than 100 lives. “Four of us from London planned to be on the Athabascan, but two of us had volunteered to transfer to the Haida,” recalls Charlie. “I’ve been lucky to dodge death a few times.” A few days after D-Day, Charlie was in the stern of a landing craft when a mine exploded and Charles and Louise Beddoe at the Perley Rideau sent him flying, with camera in ferrying American soldiers to on the Soviet Union’s northwest hand.