Canoe, kayak club loses its beloved leader
Members of the Kelowna Canoe and Kayak Club were saddened this week with word that president Sue Harrhy died on March 1.
“Sue was only recently diagnosed with cancer, and the aggressive nature of the illness and her rapid decline and passing has shocked all who knew and loved her,” said her husband, Dave.
“The KCKC executive were made aware of Sue’s recent cancer diagnosis at the beginning of February, but we were not aware of the rapid progression that it made,” said vicepresident Morag Stevenson.
The obituary posted on the Springfield Funeral Home website says: “This sad passing was brought about after another visit with the curse of cancer. During this encounter, she showed her usual bravery, strength and, above all, grace.”
Her husband added: “She believed in KCKC and was looking forward to taking on the responsibilities of president. She certainly enjoyed the outdoors, with a love for wildlife and nature across all seasons. We exposed our sons to camping and the beauty of the outdoors early, and now they are both avid outdoors people.”
Her kayaking interest dated back to a move to Kelowna in 1993 when they bought their first tandem (two-person) kayak, he recalled.
“I pulled her into the sport, but she rapidly surpassed me in both interest and ability. A few years ago, we did the Sechelt Inlet as a family.
“It was our first ocean expedition and she just loved it.”
Sue earned Paddle Canada level one certification last fall and hoped to take level two instruction so she could learn more about rescues and other skills that she could share with KCKC members.
Sue was also known in the community for her counselling practice where she provided service to many people, including those recovering from trauma.
Work-life balance was important and as a Christmas present, the couple planned a kayaking trip to Haida Gwaii next summer to celebrate a cancer-free decade after pancreatic cancer.
“Ten years; that was a gift. She was certainly resilient, tough, the way she handled this with courage and grace,” said her husband.
A celebration of life service will be held at the Mary Irwin Theatre at Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna at 2 p.m. on March 16.
Sue will be fondly remembered at the first KCKC meeting of 2019 at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the May Bennett Wellness Centre, 135 Davie Rd., Kelowna.