“Be kinder than necessary.”

Every year, Monica Guthrie posted those words in her classroom. Her family and friends would recognize them as fitting words from a woman who was quiet, kind and deeply loved.

Monica never enjoyed being the centre of attention so we hope she’ll forgive us just this once.

She was born and raised in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the daughter of John Cecil and Winnifred Murray. She excelled academically, mastered the piano and was very involved in youth organizations. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan in 1970, she moved to North Battleford and began her teaching career.

There, she met a man with a moustache and an affinity for numbers. She married that man, Larry Guthrie, in 1973 and he made her laugh (and roll her eyes) for the next 53 years.

Monica was not a small town girl at heart, and so as soon as they were married, she and Larry moved to Vancouver. The city captivated her: the bright lights and the bustle contrasted with the peace of its green parks, where the city gave way to the sounds and silence of nature.

1976 brought her and Larry back to Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, to be precise) to be closer to family. She taught for a few years before spending ten years at home raising their daughters, Christy and Leanne, before the family moved back to BC in 1990 to enjoy new opportunities, old friends and better weather.

Monica’s teaching career took her to classrooms in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. She taught grades 2 through 7, and grade 3 became her favourite. She cared about the kindness children showed one another and believed that a classroom’s culture was essential to their success.

She retired in December 2011, which gave her the time to do all the things she loved best: being with her family and friends, relaxing outside her RV at Cultus Lake, playing the Word game on her iPad and collecting stained glass lamps. She was a voracious reader. You could often find her sitting in her favourite chair, reading…anything: books, newspapers, magazines, fridge magnets.

And then, Monica and Larry discovered cruises. It started with a tentative, “Let’s try one,” and turned into an obsession. There was always more of the world to see and cruise ships gave her a way to experience new places and cultures while being able to rest, relax, read and (this was the real secret) not have to repack her suitcase.

She was a kind, gentle, thoughtful woman, with a mischievous sense of humour that often caught you by surprise. She was quick to laugh and full of love.

On October 29, Monica passed away at Langley Hospice at the age of 78, following a battle with cancer. Throughout her illness, she chose to embrace joy each day, telling her family:

“When you’ve lost what you had, don’t be sad. Be happy it happened.”

She is survived by Larry, her husband of 53 years; daughters Christy (Thomas) Gage and Leanne Burns; grandsons Braeden Burns and Remy Gage; and brothers Brian (Victoria) and Gilbert (Carrie) Murray.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service on Friday, November 27 at 11 a.m. in the Copper Ballroom at Newlands Golf & Country Club, 21025 48 Avenue, Langley, BC V3A 3M3.