One of eight, Eva was born to Albert and Barbara Wagg in Port Hope-Simpson, Labrador, and raised in Victoria Cove, Newfoundland. Daring and graceful, she skipped those rocky shores like a ballerina. She also shared blueberry patches with black bears!
After short stints as a schoolteacher and hospital orderly, from that isolated home base she somehow managed to join the RCAF as a Med A. Nobody knows how she did that, in the late fifties, from that remote outport. She even scored a reference from Artie Scammel, the composer of “Squid Jigging Ground.”
In Cold Lake, she met and married Derek. As were most people, he was totally captivated by her beauty, charm and wit. He always said she went out with him because he owned a Palomino.
Military life took them to Edmonton (whence son Colin), Greenwood (whence son Ian), Borden, Kingston and Ottawa. In Borden, Eva resumed her military career in the Communications Reserve, serving later in Kingston and Ottawa. She learned to fire small arms and anti-tank weapons, and operate a 60-ton tank hauler. She completed a Senior Leader’s Course in Wainwright, at age 40 when the next oldest student was 24. In Petawawa, she led her squad on night missions, retiring as a Sergeant, with CD.
No tiger ever fought for her cubs more than Eva did for her boys. She was the quintessential Hockey Mom, there for every practice and game. The Refs often overlooked their infractions, fearing Eva’s wrath!
In Ottawa, she turned her interests to gardening, and it wasn’t long before she became the local Flower Lady. Our grounds looked like palace gardens with a dozen staff taking care of things, but it was all her own work.
Sadly, her abilities waned seriously under the ravages of arthritis and internal ailments. She never stopped soldiering on, however, as on her very last day she fretted about Derek’s supper.
Eva is survived by Derek, sisters Donna and Doreen, son Colin and Tamara, son Ian, grandson Jake (RCN) and Emily, granddaughter Reese (Eva’s pet), and great-grandsons Noah and Luke Derek. She is predeceased by brothers Raymond, Bill and Owen, and sisters Pauline and Cathy.
When his time comes, Derek will join Eva in their common gravesite in the National Military Cemetery, located in the Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa.
Many thanks to the Emergency Staff at Montfort Hospital, represented by Dr. Yanick Massé and Nurse Sylvie.