Nancy Catherine McCuaig
June 17, 1952- February 17, 2017
Our beloved and spirited sister died peacefully in
her sleep, in her own home. Nancy is predeceased by
her amazing parents, Marion and Ian McCuaig and
her loving brother, Bill. She leaves behind two sisters,
Mary and Margaret, nephews, partners and a host of
close friends and caregivers.
Nancy, born with cerebral palsy, and her family
personi ed the term integration, long before it was
popular. In spite of dire medical predictions about
the brevity of her life and recommendations she
be put in an institution where she would be better
cared for, Marion and Ian insisted Nancy be raised
at home. Nancy lived a full and active life within her
family and the community, including attending the
Baptist church, Brownies, Macdonald Elementary
and Summerland High school. Mobility challenges
made Nancy and her family all the more determined
to nd ways for her to ride her bike in the Summerland
parade, swim at Powell beach, attend summer
church camps and drive the tractor at harvest time.
at same determination, and a yearning for the independence
she saw in her siblings, led Nancy at 19,
to move to Vancouver to a facility for people with
disabilities. While limited by the constraints of institutional
living and largely unable to speak, Nancy
embraced new and emerging ways of communicating
and learning. She joined West Point Grey Baptist
church, attended college, patiently and cheerfully
braved the limited transportation options for people
using wheelchairs, gratefully accepted help and nurtured
lifelong friendships. At the age of 47, she realized
a longtime dream and moved with caregivers,
into her own apartment. is move was supported by
the church, family, and friends with donations of furniture
and house hold items. Nancy’s staunch spirit
of independence, her love of family and friends, her
keenly developed sense of humour, her tenacity for
life, and her strong spiritual beliefs are an inspiration
to all who have known her. We are deeply grateful
for Nancy’s remarkable life, full of spirit, compassion,
cheerful determination and resilience.
e family gives heartfelt thanks for the enduring
kindness and support of Nancy’s friends and, especially
her caregivers who made it possible for Nancy
to be self-determining, live in her own apartment
and participate fully in her community.
A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held in
Summerland, at a future date.