By Jill Sperling

Neighbours light up ‘Christmas House’ during dark time for owners

Dec 19, 2016 | 11:03 AM

KAMLOOPS — Every year at Christmas time, Louise Edward goes through the arduous process of putting up thousands of festive decorations on her property. 

The Christmas House at 6th and Pine is something the community has come to treasure as a holiday tradition, but this year Edward faced a major challenge. Her husband, Ron, was found to have cancerous tumours in his brain and lung.

Edward first noticed something was wrong in mid November, when she should normally be knee-deep in Christmas decorations.

Ron normally clears snow and sets up the timers for the lights, but wasn’t going to be able to help out this year. 

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

Apr 19, 2024

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Short-term rental rules coming into effect in British Columbia

12h ago

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Board may as well not have asked public about school's name

17h ago

“It was like, ‘holy crap what am I going to do?’ Edward said. “And then like, ‘well, do like you always do, just one thing at a time. If it gets done it gets done, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. Do what you can do, put a sign up saying closed for Christmas, I don’t know, just one step at a time.”

With a little help from the neighbourhood, the decorations went up. 

“The turning point came when the neighbours were here helping anyway, and I knew I was being preoccupied, and sort of in my own head, and I didn’t want to tell anybody,” Edward said. “Finally I said to the girls, I said ‘I don’t even know how to explain this to you, this is what’s happening in my world,’ (and they said), ‘well, don’t you worry about a thing. It’s going to get done.’” 

In addition to decorating her home every year, Edward volunteers at the food bank five days a week, and delivers essential items to womens’ shelters. 

“I’m usually on the end of giving, and then all of a sudden it’s coming back ten-fold … I guess karma does come back, that was probably the first thought in my head, that somehow this will all work out.”

Knowing her decorations bring joy to the community is a source of light for Edward in a dark time.

“I’m just glad everybody is able to enjoy the lights,” Edward said. “I feel that responsibility too … Like, you know that’s going to come, you know the expectations. And I wouldn’t say pressure, it’s just one thing that people always look forward to and you’ll do it the best you can.”