‘They made everyone feel so special with their love'
LAC DU BONNET — Mourners wiped away tears and shared a fond memories as they paid tribute to Susan and Richard Nowell, the couple who died May 13 as a wildfire ripped through homes on Wendigo Road in this tight-knit community.
There almost weren't enough seats in the town's community centre Friday as nearly 700 friends, family, and community members gathered to remember the Nowells at a 90-minute celebration of life. The stage was filled with brightly coloured flowers and a collage of photographs.
Emmett Nowell, the couple's youngest son, looked at the large crowd and took a deep breath, to steady himself before speaking.
A service Friday celebrated the lives of Lac du Bonnet residents Richard and Susan Nowell.
'They made everyone feel so special with their love,' said Emmett, who was the first family member to speak. 'I could really stand up here and talk about them forever.'
'My parents have taught me everything I know, from riding a bike, to fishing, to learning how to treat others. They showed me to never worry about anything and have supported me through everything I've wanted to do. I know they will always be watching over us.'
Sue, 61, worked at Mrs. Lucci's Resource Centre, a local non-profit that operates a café and thrift store. She had supported the town's free food program, Lunch is on Us.
Rich, 59, was employed by Manitoba Hydro for more than 36 years. The operating and electrical technician worked out of the Great Falls generating station 24 kilometres north of Lac du Bonnet
They met more than 30 years ago in Island Lake in northern Manitoba, where they quickly fell in love, said Rich's sister Candace Skromeda. They moved to Lac du Bonnet, where they had two sons, Ryland and Emmett.
Ava Skromeda said she was the daughter her aunt and uncle never had. They possessed a special kind of love that filled the room.
'Our family is always loud, always laughing, and they always seemed to be in the middle of that,' said Ava.
She said Sue was the queen of one-liners, a talented baker, and she had the most contagious laugh.
Ava said Sue's baking was so good she was meant to be in charge of the wedding cake on the day she got married. She said Sue had already started planning the colours, flavours, and layers of the cake.
Her relationship with Rich was completely different.
'He called me the most annoying person he's ever met,' she said with a chuckle. 'He was always fixing something, pranking someone, or starting food fights.'
Ava said she remembers Rich starting a food fight at Easter involving pies.
'His smirk meant he had either done something dumb or was about to,' she said.
She said her aunt and uncle are gone too soon and she'll never understand why.
'I promise to carry your spirits with me, to love fiercely, laugh loudly, and never stop being myself,' she said.
Ryland choked up while speaking about his parents.
'They were two of the most selfless, compassionate people I have ever met,' he said.
Ryland said his parents showed their love in different ways. He said his mother would always greet everyone with a smile, hug or a joke.
'It didn't matter who you were, she always listened. If you were talking to her, you didn't just have her attention — you had her concern, sympathies, and help,' Ryland said.
Ryland remembered when he called his mother asking for help because he had invited his girlfriend over for a homemade dinner, but didn't know how to cook.
'I didn't have a lot of time, I didn't have many ingredients, but I still wanted to make something good,' he said.
Wednesdays
A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom.
She spent time looking over recipes that he could cook. Eventually she recommended a chicken parmesan dish. He said the date went perfectly, thanks to his mom.
Ryland said his dad showed love through his actions and always wanted to help people.
He recalled that last winter he'd had an argument with his dad and drove into a ditch with his truck minutes later.
'I had to swallow my pride and ask him for help right after we got into a disagreement, and he was out in the garage less than five minutes later,' Ryland said. 'That's the kind of person he was. No matter what, he was always there to help.'
massimo.deluca-taronno@freepress.mb.ca
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