Obituaries

MCCOMB, (Fredi) Miriam Frederika (Wodlinger) January 14, 1930 – December 23, 2013.  Fredi passed away peacefully at her home at Glengarry Hospital. Predeceased by her husband, Frank McComb, her brothers, Dave and Jim (Elaine) and her sister, Claire (John) (Nat) and survived by her sister Dorothy (David), her sister-in-law Harrianne, her children; Stephen, Laurie, Murray, Julie, Nancie (Rolf), her two grandchildren, Ryan & Taylor, and her many nieces and nephews residing across Canada.

Fredi began her life in Regina, Saskatchewan and grew up in Kamloops BC as the youngest of the 5 children of Hyman & Rose Wodlinger. Fredi began her association with volunteer work at the young age of 9 by selling tags to help raise funds for the war effort. It was this early experience, as well as having parents who were active volunteers, which instilled in Fredi a lifelong interest in volunteering.

Fredi also possessed an adventurous spirit and throughout her life she enjoyed travel. At the age of 20 she embarked on a four month long, solo adventure travelling by train throughout the United States. In later years Fredi did two solo tours of Europe, visited many warm, exotic destinations and travelled to Las Vegas numerous times with Frank or on her own. Of special note was mom’s near annual pilgrimage to Chicago to visit her sister Dorothy and family and to enjoy the Jazz Festival. She always eagerly looked forward to this trip.

Fredi moved to Victoria with her husband and young son in the mid 1950’s and her first priority of course was raising her ever growing family (5 children in 7 years!). Once her children were all of school age Fredi began volunteering at the Bastion Theatre and, over time, became increasingly active in the community.

Fredi often said that one of the reasons she was drawn to volunteering was because of all the interesting and enthusiastic people she would meet. For many years, pre and post retirement, Fredi coordinated the Christmas Hamper Program for the Ministry of Attorney General and was very proud of their achievement of delivering as many as 30 hampers. She was also very active with community arts organizations such as The Victoria Jazz Society, The Belfry Theatre, Kaleidoscope Theatre and The Fringe Festival. Over the years Fredi happily billeted out her home to countless visiting performers and felt her life was richer for having done so.  As well, Fredi found time to be an important part of the Downtown Victoria Ambassador Program and could be found patrolling on foot in search of visitors in need of assistance. And lastly, Fredi spent many years organizing the volunteers who staffed the Friends of the Library shop at the Central Library.

Fredi was small of stature but she made a huge difference in the community and, although she performed her service with little thought of recognition, she was very honoured to have received the VERA (Valued Elder Recognition Award) through the University of Victoria’s Centre on Aging for her lifetime of contribution to the community.

People who knew Fredi will remember her upbeat, positive personality, generous spirit and warm and friendly disposition. And anyone who was fortunate enough to enjoy some of Fredi’s baking will remember it fondly as well!

Fredi considered her life to be full and happy and she was very thankful for her family and all the wonderful people that she met along the way that enriched her life. She will be missed by the many people who knew and loved her.

Fredi’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many professionals in the community who assisted our mother and, specifically, to Dr. Winsby and to the wonderful staff at Glengarry Hospital.

No service by request. In lieu of cards or flowers please consider a donation to your favourite arts charity.