Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 18th January 2026
Richard Reedel
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Sandra Elizabeth Reedel (Ware) in Whaletown on January 14 th , 2026. Our family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the First Responders, Deb & Bob, RCMP, Cortes Island Deathcare Collective (Margaret & Emma), local island Doctor, Noah & the digger (WCC) and Chelsea (WCC).
Sandra lived a full life, having immigrated from the UK at a young age to the west coast of Canada with her family. They eventually settled in Whaletown after moving over from Read Island where her brothers and her began their commercial fishing careers. Sandra went back to England in 1967 to visit family and also tour Europe. Upon her return she soon made friends with the other local young people in the Whaletown community where she was introduced to her lifelong companion Fred Reedel.
They married in 1970 and started a family soon after, Richard, Brian (‘72-‘73) and Katrina. Fred and Sandra purchased a part of the old Hammond property overlooking Burnside and the Whaletown Lagoon where they established their homestead. Sandra was an avid gardener, with her specialty being growing hothouse tomatoes. She loved working the earth and spent countless hours in the gardens. When she was not in the garden or busy raising children, she made time for singing with the local singing group and visiting with some of the local homesteading women. To earn some extra income, they also were commercial clam harvesters, digging commercial openings until recently. A private family ceremony was held Saturday, January 17th 2026 where she was laid to rest in the Whaletown Cemetery beside her son Brian and near her parents. She was a great wife, mother and grandmother with a tenacious spirit.
Sandra lived a full life, having immigrated from the UK at a young age to the west coast of Canada with her family. They eventually settled in Whaletown after moving over from Read Island where her brothers and her began their commercial fishing careers. Sandra went back to England in 1967 to visit family and also tour Europe. Upon her return she soon made friends with the other local young people in the Whaletown community where she was introduced to her lifelong companion Fred Reedel.
They married in 1970 and started a family soon after, Richard, Brian (‘72-‘73) and Katrina. Fred and Sandra purchased a part of the old Hammond property overlooking Burnside and the Whaletown Lagoon where they established their homestead. Sandra was an avid gardener, with her specialty being growing hothouse tomatoes. She loved working the earth and spent countless hours in the gardens. When she was not in the garden or busy raising children, she made time for singing with the local singing group and visiting with some of the local homesteading women. To earn some extra income, they also were commercial clam harvesters, digging commercial openings until recently. A private family ceremony was held Saturday, January 17th 2026 where she was laid to rest in the Whaletown Cemetery beside her son Brian and near her parents. She was a great wife, mother and grandmother with a tenacious spirit.