After three days spending countless hours writing and rewriting this bitter sweet tribute for my beloved husband, I was hoping to make him proud, but so many details and memories keep flooding out, overwhelming my brain, But the newspaper deadline is here. Craig's incredible inspiring life and our story deserves to be shared. It doesn't help knowing how he liked reading the obituaries including people he didn't know, I wanted this to be unique. So I have concluded that I will dedicate all of the free time I now have posting it all on our walking way overrated blog. If you just Google the name of it, you will find it. After all Craig named it about 10 years ago. That's how he and I rated walking!
To me he is Hunny Bunny #2 (our much loved nephew Jesse arrived in my life first, making him #1). Craig didn't mind one bit because he loved him like I do. To some he was Bergie; to a few, Craigen; to others, my least favourite, Porker; and to officials, John.
Let’s get to it shall we. One of the hardest things I've ever had to do, all of this makes it more real. Last Saturday morning, October 19, 2024, Thanks to God's orchestration as always, I was at his bedside as I witnessed him leave this world. I take great comfort in the fact that all that makes Craig, Craig, was transformed into his new body, created to reside in his forever Home, where we will spend eternity together with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Rev 21:4 ESV
Born April 10,1952, Born and raised a proud Westfort boy, the youngest of four to Geraldine and Eric Berglund. Craig loves Jesus, reading his Bible and praying for everyone. His heart was for all people including our families, friends, even meeting and talking to strangers, he enjoyed talking even more than me, regaling people with stories and memories, bringing laughter to anyone he could. Prior to the acquisition of his physical disability in his 30s, he LOVED fishing, at one time spending the early 70s hitchhiking with a buddy, along with working on the Canadian railroad as a Navvy and driving little kids like me as a taxi driver to places like George Jeffrey children's treatment centre on North Lillie Street. Ironically the very place we ended up calling our new home, Hogarth!
In is early days, known for a life of partying and living it up, with his long beautiful wavy hair, and his beautiful twinkling eyes, about 40 years ago one day while driving, God transformed his heart and he surrendered his life to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His life was instantly made new and eventually that's how he and I got together. There'll be more details at walking way overrated.
Making so many memories with his childhood friend, I would get to hear all of those stories throughout the 23 years of our marriage. in his 30s after being forced to take early retirement from a job made just for him, a mailman for Canada Post, and after his early retirement due to a new disability, he also learned how to become an incredible landscape painter, along with a passion for wood carving, coin collecting, volunteering on the advisory board and socializing with a bit of exercising, at the Canada Games Complex, advocating for persons with disabilities, and volunteering at the Canadian paraplegic Association. Craig was never bored. For Over 30 years, right up until he entered the healthcare system 2 years ago, he volunteered as a visitor for the pastoral care department at St. Josephs hospital,
He was predeceased by his dad Eric, his mom Geraldine, his brother Eric, his sister Susan Gibson, and his brother-in-law Curly. He is survived by his sister Bettilynn Berglund and his close cousins and dear friends.
Thank you so much, to you all who helped make this incredible sudden life change more bearable at Hogarth. And for clearly Love, love, loving and caring for my husband. It was a pleasure getting to work with you. My only focus was devoted to making sure Craig always received the best of care, at times causing me to get a little paranoid. Not being able to use my own arms and legs, and depending on all of you, definitely was something that bothered me very much because I would've loved nothing more, than to be able to help tend to his needs myself. All I've ever had is my voice, which sometimes expresses too much. I apologize. And Thank you to Caitlin my sounding board and solution finder, and Lori, thank you for everything that you did. I definitely noticed and it was appreciated. Another blessing was being able to go to people like Annette, Mikael, Sam, Judith, and others.
He couldn't show it in the latter days, but his behalf I want to say a special thank you to some very special caregivers, I know made him feel cared for and therefore me too. Gerson, Trish, Cathy, Miranda, Suliyat, Veronica, Annette, Kathy, Michelle, Michaela, Edna, and I apologize I know there were others. He chose not to leave when offered our first choice, because he was quite content living here on five North,
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 ESV
After spending three days and nights trying to write this, there is clearly no way to write a brief notice honouring. and celebrating my husband's incredible life. Not enough space here, so please google walking way overrated, (Craig appropriately named it)
A Going Home Life Celebration will be at a later date. #celebratecraig
An informal interment is open to the public and will be on Tuesday, October 29 at 12pm in Dorion Mountainside Cemetery, I am unable to be there. My family roots are there and because of Craig's pain issues we were never able to visit.
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainnc.com
