Remembering Judy Capes
Counsellors and Office Staff | The Board | Volunteers | Elsie Palmer | Judy Capes
A very large hole has been created in the heart of our agency with the death of our colleague, dear friend and long term therapist, Judy Capes on October 30, 2010. Succumbing to her cancer after a two year struggle with the disease, the resiliency that we had known, loved, and appreciated in Judy had finally been exhausted.
From our family at Living through Loss Counselling Society, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to Judy's Mother, sisters and extended family members. Although anticipated, the process begins in coming to terms with reality that Judy will no longer be present in the agency that she gave her lifeblood and passion to for the past 15 years. Judy came to the agency with an authentic desire to want to help people deal with life's loss and change; and make them whole again. Although not professionally trained as a therapist, Judy worked doggedly to acquire the necessary training and education to become a grief and loss counsellor and with the support of her mentor and good friend our Executive Director, Lynette Pollard-Elgert, was successful.
Judy will be remembered for the many gifts she gave to the practice of grief and loss at Living Through Loss; a pioneer and leader in the of issues and complexities of loss due to health, Judy was able to provide a natural bridge to the hospice and palliative care community with her grief and loss practice at our agency and her work at the Dr. Peter Center and volunteer work at St. Paul's hospital. There were so many “firsts” that Judy was able to begin for our agency with the more notable ones being – the start up work necessary to begin a first ever counselling and education group for those suffering traumatic loss and change in the Squamish Corridor. This meant that Judy was in regular attendance to provide individual counselling to those in need from Squamish to Duffy Lake - never missing an appointment due to weather or road conditions.
When no one was sure of how to help the downtown eastside women deal with continuous traumatic loss and change, Judy was able to secure funding through The Sharon Martin Fund which targets at risk women in the Downtown Eastside and with her unassuming and gentle personality was able to win over the “ladies” of the downtown core and build several respected therapy groups. During Judy's illness, the group has been maintained and with Judy's persistence and will to keep the group going was able to transition the group to a new therapist in our agency, Sheryl Kramer.
Judy was a relentless advocate and ambassador to our agency in all areas of her life and because of that, the breadth and reach of our services were expanded over her tenure with us and although we were a provincial based agency, Judy's work took her beyond, to the Yukon and Northwest Territories to counsel individuals and provide training to social services professionals.
Judy's senior management experience acquired through past work experiences was invaluable to the Board and Staff during our many strategic and annual agency planning sessions and I often sought her opinion on Board matters as she was on a number of volunteer Boards. Her tactful skill and know how in building meaningful relationships with our funding agencies, such as United Way, Church organizations and independents, opened a number of doors that helped in growing the agency's education, training and counselling practice.
In honour and remembrance of Judy, the Board of Living Through Loss Counselling Society of BC will be establishing the Judy Capes Memorial Fund with the specific purpose to provide counselling and group therapy support to women at risk and that have no economic means to pay for counselling services. To begin building the fund over the next year, $1.00 will be donated from every paid counselling hour received in the agency. Additionally, I will be asking my fellow Board members and friends of the agency to match my initial donation to Judy's Fund of $500.00. Designated donations will also be possible to the agency in memory of Judy Capes via the Living through Counselling Society's ways to give page.
I know I speak for all of my colleagues, staff and volunteers at the agency in saying that we will miss you madly Judy and your energy and inspiration will live on always.
Cheryl L Bucar, Board Chairperson,
Living Through Loss Counselling Society of BC
Obituary in The Sun / The Province
CAPES, Judith (Judy) Lynne It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Judy on October 30, 2010. She was the dearly loved daughter of Jean and the late Walter Capes; the precious sister of Betty, Connie and Margaret; the treasured sister-in-law of George and Kate.She is also remembered, with fondness, by Sherry Niemetz, a dear family friend.
Judy was a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario (BA) and the University of Toronto (MLS). She was a Librarian within the Toronto and Vancouver Library Systems and more recently a Grief and Loss Counsellor with Living Through Loss Counselling Society of B.C. in Vancouver.
First and foremost, Judy loved her family and her friends deeply. Her interests were varied bird watching, music of all kinds, dancing, hiking and travel. She was also an avid reader and a lifelong learner. Her ministries of healing touch and labyrinth facilitation were gifts she offered to her congregation at St. Andrew's Wesley in Vancouver. Her cabin on Mayne Island, was her place of rejuvenation and solace. The family farm in Ontario, Crickethead Bed and Breakfast and the Desert House of Prayer near Tuscan, Arizona and the Rivendell Retreat Centre on Bowen Island, were sources of inspiration and renewal for her. Judy loved life and all the opportunities it afforded her. She was a teacher for all of us about how to seize each moment of every day.
There will be a Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for her life held Thursday, November 4 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Andrew's Wesley United Church, 1022 Nelson St. (at Burrard), Vancouver with a reception to follow. A service will be held in Ontario at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts to be directed to Living Through Loss Counselling Society of B.C. (see link below), St. Andrew's Wesley United Church (ww.standrewswesleychurch.bc.ca ), The Stephen Lewis Foundation ( stephenlewisfoundation.org ) or the Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program of British Columbia ( leukemiabmtprogram.org ).
The Capes Family would like to thank friends and family who have supported Judy, especially during the past two years. We will never forget the kindness and generosity of her Vancouver family of friends. Also, we are grateful to Dr. Thomas Nevill, the doctors and nurses on the Leukemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Floor and in the Leukemia Day Care Unit at Vancouver General Hospital for their caring support of Judy during the past two years. Thank you to Dr. Don Griesdale and nurses Marlies and Sandy on the Intensive Care Unit at VGH who compassionately cared for Judy as she prepared for her final journey.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:31)
Now is your time to soar, Judy. God's Speed.
Walkey & Company Funeral Directors
604-738-0006
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