– November 13, 2020
After more than four years of living with cancer, Maureen Beryl Coffey-Loeb Ross, known as Mo to most, passed away quietly and without pain on the evening of November 13, 2020 at The Views in Comox. She was 73 years old.
Mo is survived by her husband Neil of 38 years; her sister Eileen Webb; her brother-in-law Sandy Ross (Carol); and her son Grant Thiessen (Anne). She also leaves many nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Cyril and Cora Coffey; her brothers Ivor and Roland Coffey; and her sister Brenda Simmons. She is also remembered by a close circle of loving friends who supported her throughout her illness.
Mo’s journey with cancer lasted longer than many experts predicted. When asked about it, she would simply say, “I guess I’m not ready to pop off yet.” That practical and determined attitude defined her life. She was never one for elaborate analysis. She believed in getting on with things.
Mo was born in 1947 in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, one of the oldest boroughs in England. Her parents farmed in nearby Shipton Moyne. At nineteen, she made the bold decision to leave her small English community and emigrate to Canada. She boarded the ship HMS Carinthia in Liverpool and arrived in Montreal on October 14, 1966.
During the voyage, she met her first husband, Terry Loeb, an accomplished guitarist. They settled in Winnipeg, Terry’s hometown, and became part of the vibrant music scene there. Around 1974, they moved to the Vancouver area. After Terry was tragically killed in a car accident, Mo faced another turning point in her life.
In 1980, she decided to move to Vancouver Island. With a tent, two cats, and a borrowed pickup truck, she headed to the Oyster River. Determined as always, she bought a copy of Canadian Wood Frame House Construction and, with help from her friend Neil and others, designed and built a cabin on the riverbank. There was no power, no water, and no phone, but that did not stop her. The cabin still stands today as a year-round home. Around that time, she even spent a summer commercial fishing to earn money and to conquer her fear of the water.
In 1982, she married Neil. Together they designed and built their home at Miracle Beach in 1988. Mo embraced Island life and worked at several jobs over the years, including one she loved at Sylvan Vale Nursery.
One special chapter of her life came full circle years later. In 1967, while living in Winnipeg, she had given birth to a son. In 2006, her son Grant found her, and they reunited in Manitoba. It was a joyful reunion, and Grant became a cherished part of Mo and Neil’s life.
Over the years, Mo and Neil enjoyed golfing, camping, and travelling together. They visited Mexico, England for family visits, Scotland, New Zealand, and even crossed Canada with a trailer to Newfoundland.
Mo created a beautiful garden that Neil calls his sanctuary. She fostered and adopted many cats, which she loved deeply. She took up painting with passion and never lost her willingness to try new things.
Even after her diagnosis, surgeries, and chemotherapy, Mo kept moving forward. Niagara Falls was on her bucket list, so she made the trip, walker and all. True to herself, she reminded everyone, “I’m not ready to pop off yet.”
Mo was fiercely independent and always willing to take risks. At the same time, she was a gentle and caring soul. She loved all creatures, whether furry, feathered, or human. She put others before herself and, now and then, enjoyed a good Scotch.
She will be deeply missed.
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