Frances Charlotte Coleridge

As the sun morning stretched across the horizon, Frances Charlotte Coleridge finally said good-bye to the world on June 27, 2022, in Bellingham, WA. She was born in Ottawa, Canada, on April 29, 1928, to Peter and Charlotte Cashen. She is survived by sons Peter (June Yvonne), John (Jill), James and Robert (Terry). With a total of 16 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren – family was and continues to be everything to her and the boys. They are Grandchildren: Kimberly (Tyler), Matthew, Paul (Danelle), Tiffany (Jeremy), Rebekah (Beau), Nathaniel, Lawrence, Dillon, Dean (Zena), Jett, and Eden. Great-grandchildren: Taylor, Olivia, Brooklyn, Amber, Luke, Tristan, Linkin, Madeline, Alexia, Amelia, Aurora, and Natassia. She is survived by her best friend of 70 years, Edna Griffith. It was on a blind date with Edna and her boyfriend, that she met a gentleman named Ken who was in the RCAF. Ken knew this was the woman for him when she slipped under the car on the ice and he thought she would be a great mechanic. Edna and Frances, being life long friends, kept in constant contact by visiting each other regardless of where they lived. Edna was so close to the family that Mom’s sons viewed Edna as a close Aunt and kept in contact with her. As a family we have always loved and still do love Edna She attended Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa at a young age and married a tall dark-haired gentleman, Kenneth Myers Coleridge December 12, 1953. Kenneth and Frances had five sons and enjoyed over 50 years of devoted love to one another until his passing on April 18, 2005. Frances was a creative soul, loving her roses, flower gardens and especially her purple lilac trees. She was self-taught about drawing and painting and became an amazing oil painter at first as a hobby and occasionally selling her work at art shows in White Rock. She loved painting ocean scenes, roses and even painted her little poodle. She travelled throughout Canada and to Europe as part of her journey with Kenneth who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for over 25 years. She worked as an accountant, a newspaper editor and even a secretary to a Canadian Member of Parliament, working with her sister Millie in Ottawa. She was always adventurous and enjoyed her and Kenneth’s time in Germany, taking the children in their camper to different countries in the summers. And she and Kenneth loved dancing, with her standing on his feet while they glided the dance floor or going out with friends while in Europe to either a base dance or in the local halls. She was always playful and loving the German wine glasses so much, she would try to sneak a few home at the end of the night. But of course, Kenneth was always keeping an eye on her and made sure he paid for them on the way out. Most of the time she thought she was being sneaky – yes that’s our Mom. She had a huge souvenir spoon collection from all her travels, cities, countries she visited and even her sons started buying her souvenir spoons from their own travels which ‘Mom’ happily added to her collection. Her favourite holiday was always Christmas. From the tradition of decorating the tree (which had to be up on their Dec 12 anniversary) where Kenneth put on ‘only’ the lights and her and the boys putting on the ornaments. And the baking, well it started months before and went 24/7 until Christmas with tins and tins of assorted baking. She always took great delight filling the fridge and freezers full of Christmas baking and the boys thinking they could sneak downstairs and raid the cookies. She always knew and took great delight in letting them think they were being sneaky. She spent days every year writing Christmas notes on cards to her friends around the world. And the powerhouse she was, she stayed up in the early hours of the morning wrapping all the presents, even as our ‘Santa’, which Kenneth would hand out in the morning in an very civilized way while each person unwrapped each present before going on to the next person. And as much as Frances loved the holidays and baking for her large family, she also enjoyed taking the family out to local restaurants in White Rock especially ‘The Golden Lion’ and ‘Moby Dick’s Fish & Chips’. And she loved taking Cruises with Robert and Terry and always enjoyed the buffet choices, but she did have a sweet tooth and always took a few treats back to her cabin for late night snacks. And her small chocolate cookies with marsh mellow inside, you would not dare try to sneak one from her. And then her being ticklish, well she had more tickle buttons then anyone and everyone took great delight reminding her. She would squirm and laugh out loud every time and we all took as much delight tickling her as she enjoyed the fun. One of her son’s fondest memories is of Mom driving around back roads in her VW Beetle and him, being 14, standing on the outside running boards. She was always up for an adventure, walking on the beach, going snowshoeing, playing cribbage or rummy, and even going for walks with Kenneth driving behind her to watch over her so she was safe. Mom, know this – you taught your boys that family is everything. Yes, you were loving and a fireball, but through the miles and distance we always knew you were our beacon in the night. Sometimes travelling across the world to show up at your door when you least expected it and surprise you with screams of love and happiness when they arrived to make the family complete again. You and Dad’s gift was love and the 4 boys will keep your love of life, your passion for fun, your energy and tiger spirit energy in us every day forward. Travel well Mom, your legacy will live on, and the boys will now carry you with them in our hearts and pass on all the gifts you gave us to the rest of our family. Forever love, forever family, travel safe Mom – you and Dad taught us well. Love forever.

Frances Charlotte Coleridge

April 29, 1928 - June 27, 2022