Karen Craddock

Rita Karen Craddock
December 4, 1932 - August 15, 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Karen Craddock (nee Peden).

Karen lived a full life and is happy now to be reunited with her great love Laurie.

Karen grew up in Brandon, Manitoba leading an active life as a member of the Y Queens basketball team and working at the bank. She spent many happy summers at the family’s trailer in Clear Lake as a child and then as a teen - roller skating, golfing, and her favourite, dancing at the wonderful bandstand. Once Karen married Laurie in 1956 life really took off. They moved and built homes and made lifelong friends in cities from Flin Flon to Chicago, Montreal, Winnipeg, Markham and Guelph until finally settling in North Vancouver. Karen golfed and curled, played bridge and enjoyed a lifelong love of books and the piano. Karen was a devoted wife to her beloved Laurie - through thick and thin they survived and thrived, travelling and golfing, entertaining and living life to the fullest. Karen was a wonderful mother to her three children Chris, Cam and Carla as well as to a myriad of pets from goldfish to turtles, a backyard chicken and, over the years, seven beloved dogs. Karen was a fun loving free spirit who loved to laugh, play practical jokes, dress up for Halloween and entertain their many wonderful friends. The Craddock parties, from the Flin Flon Bomberspiel to the Puslinch Sunday School Picnic were revered by all who attended. And Karen loved to dance - from the bandstand at Clear Lake to the many golf club dances and New Year’s Eve soirees, Karen kept on dancing right through her final years - known to her many caregivers as ‘the Michael Jackson lady’.

Karen is survived by her sisters Verda McDonald and Linda Peden, her children Chris (Brandy), Cam (Nancy) and Carla (Michael) as well as her six beloved grandchildren Cameron, Matthew, . Ryan, Cole, Kayla and Kelsey all of whom she remained close with throughout her life with frequent phone calls and visits.

After losing her beloved Laurie in 2014, Karen lived independently until she moved in with her daughter Carla and family in Deep Cove BC for her final years where she thrived on family life and daily phone calls and frequent visits from son Cam. Karen received outstanding care and attention from the North Shore division of Vancouver Coastal Health - she loved all of her caregivers (special thanks to Lavern, Hardeep, Juliana, Jolie and Jose), her nurses Pat and Vafa, her amazing physiotherapist Mike (who was the light of her life and always dressed to match!), her lovely neighbour Jean and her special visitor Jocelyn.

A celebration of Karen’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Kidney Foundation.