Obituary of Colleen JoAnne Westcott

Colleen JoAnne Westcott (nee Moore) May 14, 1925- Nov 4, 2017 Colleen passed away in Oliver Lodge on the 4th of November in her 93rd year with her youngest daughter present. She was predeceased by parents Albert and Mary (nee Onhauser) Moore and sister-in-law Jeanine Moore. Colleen was born in Winnipeg but grew up in Vancouver. She also lived in Portland, Seattle, Edmonton and then her last 56 years in Saskatoon. Although she grew up during the Great Depression she recalled happy times digging clams at Kitsilano Beach and hiking up to the family cabin on Mount Hollyburn. This instilled her lifelong love of the ocean side and the Rockie mountains. She also loved listening to swing and jazz records and boasted of skipping out of school to wait by the back door of the Orpheum Theatre to catch a glimpse of Frank Sinatra and her other favourites. Her most revered placed was the Vancouver Public Library where she spent long hours. After she graduated from King Edward she married her high school sweetheart and war vet Al Westcott and quickly started their family. She cherished her years as an at home mom. However after divorce in her 30's she enrolled at the U of S and earned an Education degree with an English major. Then was awarded her Master's degree while taking classes by night and teaching by day. She taught English at Clavet, Walter Murray and Bedford Road. She also instructed a Children's Litterature class at the U of S. She had an infectious love of books and music. After introducing her children to the old jazz greats, they introduced her to Dylan, Cohen, Joni Mitchell and the Rolling Stones. She had a vast and varied record collection and even more books. She also loved evidence-based inquiry, politics and late night conversations fuelled by strong black coffee. Colleen was a lifelong free thinker and progressive. She attended the founding meeting of the BC young CCF. She shopped at the Co-op, banked at Credit Unions and supported the Community Clinic, Ploughshares, labour unions and was a feminist before the word was coined She was empathetic, had an instinct for social justice, made time to comfort those in need and stood up to bullies. Her voracious love of learning was her passion, whether it was learning a new hobby, traveling or reading copious amounts of books. Colleen modestly wanted to be remembered as a good teacher and mother, she was neither, she was exemplary at both. She was also stylish, generous, tenacious, adaptable and audacious. Colleen is survived by her children: Kerry(Esther) Wakaw, Wayne(Norma)Saskatoon, Leigh(Jasmin) Costa Rica, Candace Holden(Ken) ThunderBay,Deirdre Winslow(Stewart Wilson). 6 grandchild and 3 great grandchildren. Her only sibling, Dr Eugene Moore(Judy) Seattle, his 3 children and 7 grandchildren. Very close friend Karen Wiengiest, her daughter Lia and Lia's 2 children. Very close family friend Skip Kutz. And her many students through the years who adored her. Colleen was very appreciative of the excellent care and sincere compassion she received from the staff of Oliver Lodge, as is her family. The best way to celebrate Colleen is to support a good cause, read a good book and thank a teacher.