I thought today would be a good day to post this photo of my grandfather when he was about 20 years old. Charles Edward Evans was born in Halifax in 1896 and died in Vancouver in 1972. I believe he died of heart failure. I do remember that he died at home and Betty (my biological mother) found his body when she went to see him. I always knew I was adopted but didn’t know that Grandpa Evans was my ‘real’ grandfather until after he died. He is the father of both of my mothers.

I remember hearing that he was a pilot in the first world war. It sounded somewhat daring and exotic when I heard that but I never had a chance to talk to him about it. I was twelve when he died and we didn’t see him that often. When I found this photo in my mother’s collection of old photos, I recognized him. I wondered about the uniform. I was able to find the exact uniform on a group of cadets for the Royal Flying Corps, the precursor to the Royal Air Force and then the Royal Canadian Air Force. The most famous pilot in the RFC was Billy Bishop. This is a nice link to some interesting info on the RFC , including photos of Billy Bishop.

My grandfather was a realtor and a notary public. Apparently, he was gregarious and enjoyed people. He had musical talents and sang, played the piano, banjo and guitar. His three daughters were all gifted in music and other artistic endeavours.

I think he looks very handsome in this photo.

Among my mother’s photos and other treasures, I found this framed certificate of her father’s first communion and confirmation.

Charles Evans
made his First Communion
on June 7th, 1909.
Baptized ______ Confirmed June 7, 1908
Fr. E.M. Connolly, O.M.I

He died in September, 1972, just before I learned that he was my ‘real’ grandfather. (My parents always told me I was adopted but I didn’t know that my biological mother was my mother’s sister.) He always brought us a big bag of Dilly Bars from Dairy Queen when he came for his rare visits.

Two years ago today, my mom’s funeral was at St. Augustine’s Church. One of the things I’m most happy about is that she and I spent time together planning her funeral. My brothers were amazing. They helped out with her care, preparing food and coordinating the supports with palliative care. I recognized that there was one thing I could do that would be important to her and to all of the family, as I had experience with event planning. And five years before she and I had worked on dad’s funeral together.

So, in August, we started the discussion each time I went to visit or had a ‘shift’ caring for her. She chose the music, the pallbearers, the eulogy, the readers, how she wanted the altar to be set up with one large bouquet of flowers by the lectern. I also asked her what she would like people to know about her, such as things that she had achieved. Of all the incredible things that she had done in her life, I was really touched when she told me that being chosen as as the youngest ever swimming instructor for the Vancouver Sun’s Sun Ray club was one of her greatest achievements. Among her treasures in the boxes of photos, I found this photo from the Vancouver Sun.