> THE LIVES THEY LIVED

Hundreds of Canadians have died during the coronavirus pandemic. The Star is building a book of remembrance to tell their stories — not the stories of their deaths, but of the lives they lived, as mothers and fathers, as war veterans and artists, as family and friends, as sports fans and music lovers. If you have lost a loved one and would like to memorialize them, contact us at covidremembrance@thestar.ca to share their story.

Dianne Horton, 74 Cheapside, Ont.

Raised in west Toronto, Horton was 17 when she married her husband, Robert, with whom she had three children. “She was a cornerstone to the family. She loved her grandbabies and definitely watched out for her kids growing up,” recalled her son Shawn in an interview with the Star.

When Kmart was still in Canada, Horton worked as a department manager. Later, she worked balancing the books for her husband’s independent janitorial service.

Horton loved art, spending her younger years painting and taking up knitting later in life, Shawn said.

“She was always a good sport and only looked at things to be fair, not more than her share,” her son Shawn said. “She was a great grandmother and truly loved her family, never passing judgment on what they did or walk of life they chose.”

Clark Campbell, 76 Orangeville, Ont.

Robert Campbell, known as Clark, was a kind, gentle man who was loved fiercely by his family, including Gail, the “city girl” he met on a blind date and married 50 years ago.

Born in Brampton, he loved dogs and the outdoors. He was particularly fond of a quiet paddle on Lake Bernard, a roaring fireplace, a Bob Dylan tune and good scotch. A civil engineer, he never considered anything to be beyond repair, things or people.

“I was blessed to be married to that man. I got to tell you, I don’t know why he chose me but I’m so glad he did,” Gail Campbell told Orangeville.com.

Shortly after retiring, Clark had what he thought was a seizure, which resulted in dementia. He was eventually diagnosed with a rare condition called Limbic encephalitis.

Following treatment, he began to recover. “I got his whole personality back,” Gail said. “He had a wonderful 10 years since that happened.”

Christine Mandegarian, 54 Toronto

A personal support worker at Altamont Care Community, Mandegarian is being remembered by colleagues as “the life of the party” and full of energy.

“She was a kind, caring, compassionate and hard working woman who loved her family, friends and patients,” said Mandegarian’s family in a message to the Star. “She would do whatever she could to make you feel welcomed in her home at any time. She gave her heart to what she did and paid the ultimate price.”

Mandegarian held her job at Altamont for 31 years.

Victoria Salvan, 64 Montreal

Salvan often worked overtime at the Grace Dart Extended Care Centre in Montreal so she could make enough money to pay for her two sons’ postsecondary education.

“She didn’t want them to have to find jobs. She wanted them to concentrate on their studies and do well in school,” Sheena Rimme, Victoria’s co-worker recalled.

A long-term-care worker her entire career, Salvan always treated her colleagues with “love and kindness,” said Rimme. “She was such a sweetheart.” Some days, she’d buy Filipino food for her co-workers; other days, she’d chip in to buy groceries for those in need.

Her generosity and deep sense of empathy was a welcome presence among the long-term-care workers putting in long, arduous hours a the facility, especially during the pandemic. She is also remembered as a loving wife and mother who went out of her way to support her family.

Rita Owen, 91 Calgary

Owen is being remembered as a fun-loving social butterfly who loved gossiping with friends over tea and playing slots at the casino.

“She had quite a zest for life,” her son, Michael Owen, said.

She was also a devout Catholic. Had she not married late in life and had her only child, Owen said he could picture his mother becoming a nun. “Most people actually thought she was.”

She died three weeks shy of her 92nd birthday at the McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre in Calgary. Owen said his mother moved into the home after she broke her hip in a fall in 2014. She was so sick then that she was given last rites. But she pulled through.

“Every day past then has been borrowed time, extra time, bonus time.”

She died never knowing she had contracted the virus. “At her age, I just wanted her to enjoy what time she had and not worry,” her son said.