Elizabeth Lenore Rathbun

…died peacefully at home, surrounded by close family members, after dealing with the challenges of MS for over 25 years. Elizabeth was the beloved wife of Bernard Gobin; mother to Nicholas (Melissa Zaron) and Stephanie (Jacob Cramm) and grandmother to Noah and Celeste Cramm; sister to Jim Rathbun (Judy Rathbun) and Roger Rathbun (Bobbie Rathbun); sister-in-law to Jenny Gobin (Michael Steinmann); aunt to Joel and Anne, Andrew and Jocelyn and Oliver and Napier, Michael and Cécile; great-aunt to fifteen.

Accomplished in many fields of endeavour, Elizabeth had lifelong passions for literature, for music, and for being in and of the natural world.

As a thoughtful devotee of the written and spoken word, she read widely and deeply, and was especially interested in fiction and poetry. After pursuing graduate studies in English at Queen’s University in Kingston, Elizabeth moved to Toronto and spent several years in the publishing industry. Working at Maclelland and Stewart – then the epicentre of English Canada’s burgeoning literary scene – she enjoyed the contact with authors and reviewers. Eventually she moved to Vancouver to work with Stanton and MacDougall (a forerunner of Raincoast Books) and became more directly involved in sales and promotion efforts, arranging author media appearances and signings. When in later years Elizabeth turned to the study of theology, textual criticism and the interpretation of religious texts remained a primary focus of interest.

Although she loved music of all sorts, Elizabeth had a particular affection for choral music. Singing was a great pleasure, and wherever she lived, she sought out the choral community. Over the years she variously sang with the Kingston Choral Society, the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, Vancouver’s Bach Choir, and eventually Elektra Women’s Choir. And when an opportunity arose to work with the Vancouver Chamber Choir as General Manager, she embraced the challenge and brought her considerable administrative skills to helping the ensemble become one of Canada’s premier professional choirs. Organizing and promoting an ambitious performing and touring program was a labour of love, and her years with the choir saw them go from strength to strength.

Although Elizabeth stepped down as General Manager of the choir in 1988 to balance work and family priorities, she remained involved with music and the arts, serving terms on the BC Arts Board, as general manager of Festival Vancouver, founding President of Elektra, and founding board member of Turning Point Ensemble. And as her children’s horizons began to expand, she took action to ensure that arts education would be a rich and vital part of their learning environment by spearheading the development and implementation of Artist-in-residence programs at her children’s elementary schools.

In all her professional and personal undertakings, Elizabeth’s North Star was a deeply held appreciation for the importance of relationship. She also drew upon her considerable public speaking abilities, having been coached in childhood by her mother, a skilled elocutionist. Whether providing toasts at weddings, engaging in advocacy on behalf of a group she supported, or thanking those she’d persuaded to contribute to a cause, she knew how to strike the right tone. She invariably spoke with clarity, conviction, and affection, leavened with gentle humour and rich diction. Her beautifully modulated speaking voice made her a natural choice to deliver poetry readings at Christmas performances of Elektra and Remembrance Day concerts of Chor Leoni.

Beyond her professional focus on books and the arts, Elizabeth believed in the importance of being an informed and caring private citizen. She was passionately anti-war and an early supporter of efforts to combat climate change. Having spent a summer at age 20 in Grenada as volunteer with Canadian Crossroads International, she paid close attention to domestic and world affairs by attending to the news reporting, investigative journalism, and skilled interviewing she found in her favourite media sources: the CBC, PBS, The Globe and Mail, and The New Yorker.

Throughout her life, Elizabeth found respite and happiness through engagement with outdoor pursuits and interests – gardening, camping, and water-related activities, including swimming, kayaking, and (above all) sailing.

As secondary progressive MS began to take a toll on Elizabeth’s physical capacities, she became a more attentive listener and learned to find joy and purpose through her many close interactions with family and friends. In the face of increasing dependency and various medical crises, her positive mindset, her curiosity, and her keen interest in the lives and doings of others served as an inspiration to many.

Elizabeth and her family would like to thank her many health care providers, including those at the UBC MS Clinic, GF Strong Hospital, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, UBC Respiratory Clinic, Provincial Respiratory Outreach Program, VGH, and Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre who were essential in maintaining her ability to live and thrive over the last 25 years; …also the providers of MAiD and the dedicated staff of Motion Specialties and Technology for Independent Living.

Most especially, we thank the dedicated caregivers since 2008 who have been woven into the fabric of our lives. They have honoured the web of our family relationships, and we hope that we have honoured theirs. Dōmo arigatōgozaimasu; agyamanak unay; maraming salamat; salamat kayo; thank you very much.

Elizabeth’s desire for a green burial has been fulfilled. A Celebration of Life will be held at VanDusen Gardens (Visitor Centre Hall) on August 18, between noon and 3:00 pm. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend. Complimentary access to the gardens is included for those who RSVP.