Obituary of Connie Crane

Connie Crane

Born: June 4, 1935 – Turtleford, Saskatchewan

Deceased: October 24, 2023 – Victoria, BC

It is with great sadness our family announces the passing of Connie Crane (Constance Marie Callbeck) on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at the age of 88 years. She spent her last four and a half years residing at the Glengarry Hospital where she faced her health challenges with great courage. We wish to recognize the care team at Glengarry Hospital for their kindness, care and support throughout Connie’s stay, especially during the difficult times of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Connie was born, the fourth child to Elmer and Esther Callbeck on June 4, 1935, in Turtleford, Saskatchewan, and grew up on a farm outside of town. With seven siblings, life on a farm was full of hard work and sacrifice. Connie took those qualities into all facets of her future life.

Connie stayed on the farm, to help care for her younger siblings and cook for the farm hands until she was 20 years old when she moved to Saskatoon to study to become a Nursing Assistant. She said, passing her Nursing exams, was her proudest career accomplishment. While in Saskatoon, Connie met her husband to be, Robert Crane, at a dance. She loved dancing. After they married, Robert’s career took them to Edmonton, Dawson Creek and then Lloydminster. While in Dawson Creek, Bob and Connie started a family, with the birth of their daughter Fiann Michelle Crane on November 26, 1964. Jeffrey Dean Crane followed, born on March 18, 1967. A move to Campbell River, British Columbia followed where the family settled for an extended period of time. While there Connie embraced her role of home maker and care giver to her family including her in-laws.

The years in Campbell River were good ones with a busy home full of energy and laughter. Connie could be found supporting her kids’ activities and helping them with math flash cards, packing lunches for school, and playing ladies morning badminton at the rec centre, where she became so well known for her catch phrase, “Oh sh*t”, that was used so often the lady’s badminton social club printed her a t-shirt with her catch phrase on it. Connie enjoyed tending her garden, baking, canning pickles, picking wild berries, making jams, and volunteering with the women’s auxiliary of the United Church and at the schools. Connie cared deeply about her children and her home. Never was an item out of place in the home and cleanliness was demanded, “There is nothing I hate more than a dirty house”. She also curated an extensive social network of ladies to ‘coffee’ with.

In 1988, after the children left for university, Robert, and Connie split. Connie took solace with her family in Saskatchewan before moving permanently to Victoria, where she spent the remainder of her life. In the early days in Victoria, Connie kept busy working with the elderly as a home support worker, volunteering at the Royal BC Museum gift shop, and watercolour painting. Keen to learn more about her Norwegian heritage, she became very active with the Sons of Norway.  Connie placed great importance on maintaining her health and fitness. She took long daily walks, played competitive lawn bowls, joined a league for 5-pin bowling and golfed. An extravert, Connie also loved socializing, and dancing at the Legion. Ever curious and open to new experiences Connie traveled extensively within Canada and to Asia, Africa and Europe. While living this full and rich life she so much enjoyed, she met her partner, Bill Trimble.

Together, Bill and Connie adventured around both the island and the prairies during the summer while wintering in El Centro, California. Many golf games were played and socializing around an evening fire was a daily joy. These adventures continued for thirteen years until the health of both Bill and Connie resulted in the sale of their condo and a move into a seniors’ home.

The loss of Bill in 2019; and with dementia affecting Connie’s memory, thinking, physical and social abilities, a move into long term care was necessary. Initially, she found pleasure in reading, spending time with family, going for strolls around the neighbourhood, and enjoying some of the activities provided by the seniors home where she lived. In the end, Connie required a lot of help and the care team at Glengarry Hospital made sure she was well cared for.

Connie was predeceased by her parents and her sisters Kathryn, Claire, Ferne, and Anne as well as her partner of the last years of her life, Bill Trimble. She leaves behind children, Fiann (Terry) and Jeff (d: Leigh) and grandchildren Julien, Ethan and Emma; her brothers Art (Janie) Callbeck, Richard (Dawn) Callbeck and sister Velma (Charlie) Morin; many nieces and nephews as well as Bill’s family, Sandy, Barry and Emma Gribbon. Connie was a cherished friend to many, through her activities, membership with the Son’s of Norway and winters spent in California.

An interment will be held at the Turtleford Cemetery on Friday, November 17, 2023 at 12:30 am.  A Celebration of Connie’s Life will be held at the W.A. Edwards Family Centre in Saskatoon (333 4^th Ave N., Saskatoon, Sask) on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, consider contributing to the Eldercare Foundation.