Edward Joseph Caraher
June 17, 1943 – April 10, 2024
Ed was born on June 17, 1943 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and after valiantly fighting a lengthy battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, peacefully passed away at the age of 80 surrounded by the love of his friends and family the evening of April 10, 2023 in Vancouver, BC.
A celebration of life ceremony was held on April 13th at the Kerrisdale Senior Centre in Vancouver which was attended by many family members, friends and chess buddies.
During his adventurous and accomplished life he had the pleasure of living in the Westlock community from 1977 to 1999. During these 22 years he was the Principal of Vimy School, the Principal of Westlock Junior High School, the Vice-Principal of R.F. Staples High School, and finally the Principal of R.F. Staples High School, a position he held from 1991 to 1998.
Ed leaves much family behind to mourn and remember him fondly, including his wife Mary (Hisako Shimizu); stepdaughter Heidi Kutschmann (Keisuke (Kei) Takeda); sons Pasha, Tarquin (Joelle), and Damien (Natasha); and granddaughters Claire, Samantha, Elsie, and Abbey.
Ed was the 6th of 11 children and he also leaves behind 6 remaining siblings, their spouses, and many nieces and nephews. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Marie Caraher; and his siblings, Catherine, Rosemary, Margaret, and Jimmy.
If you knew Ed, you would have either heard or personally experienced many of the “Crazy Ed” stories which sprang from his 80 years of life. He was an incredible father and grandy, as well as a friend, teacher and mentor to many. |He was a one-of-a-kind person who always seemed to be larger than life. The world, and the worlds of those who have known him well, will be a sadder, quieter, and lonelier place without him.
