‘Chilliwack’s Hat Lady is Gone’
The family of Hope Chatry is deeply saddened to announce the sudden passing of Hope Chatry, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Hope left us on Sunday, November 20th, 2005.
Hope Chatry’s life story has been amazing. She was born December 11, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one of seven children. She was the only sibling born with the ‘red hair’ that soon became her trademark. The story goes that her father had to grow a beard in order to prove that she wasn’t adopted. From the time she was small, Hope lived life to the fullest, dancing and singing her way through life.
Hope served in the Canadian Military during the war years. She was discharged in 1946 but remained loyal to all things military. She belonged to the Canadian Legion and marched every year in the Remembrance Day Parade.
Hope met Harry when she was serving in the military and they married in September 14th, 1946. She and Harry have been together for 59 years. She will leave behind a big place in his heart. They were a team in life and business. Chilliwack benefited from their years together in real estate as the successful real estate ‘Team’. Hope also used her business skills when she owned ‘Margaret’s Millinery’ which she renamed “Hat’s and
That”, and began wearing her signature hats. From that point forward she never left home without wearing one. For the last 30 years, wherever Hope went she always wore her hats.
Hope leaves behind a large legacy of love, stories of ‘Lucy’, and a home filled with memories. Her daughter Sharron and children Richard (daughter Aleshanee) and Sherry-Lynn (husband Richard), Hope’s son Gordon (wife Pamela) and children Megan (son Jeremy) and Morgan, Hope’s daughter Leslie (husband, Ken) and children Curtis, Joshua, and Alexandria, Hope’s brother John and his wife Ruth, her brother Denny and his wife Donna and many other close family members will all greatly miss her love of life and her amazing ability to keep us all close to her.
Hope Chatry also had a belief that we all should contribute to the community in order to make it a better place. She was a volunteer extraordinaire. Hope was the first to volunteer to man a table for fundraisers, decorating for events and visit her friends who became sick or shut-in. She was a longstanding member of Soroptimists International, and President of the Urostomy/Colostomy Support Group of Chilliwack. Hope’s true love was music. She sang in her church choir and was an alto behind the voices of the Heritage Singers. The family will miss her voice at our Christmas gatherings and the attempt to get us all to harmonize. Our perfect note is now gone. We will miss you Hope.
Hope’s celebration of her life will be held Friday November 25 11AM at Carman United Church, 7258 Vedder Road, Chilliwack, BC. We will sing, tell stories, and remember an incredible woman who believed in living life to the fullest. Join us at Carmen United Church to the relive the life of Hope Chatry, truly one of kind, never to be repeated gift to this world. Good-bye Hope. We have all been so fortunate to have known you.