Rebecca "Becca" Lauren Donna Schofield, M.S.M., 18, of Riverview, NB, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at the Moncton Hospital. A beautiful soul who left this world too soon, she leaves the world a kinder place for having once been part of it. Born in Moncton, she was the beloved youngest daughter of Darren and Anne (Savoie) Schofield.
Besides her parents, she leaves to mourn with precious memories her sister Gabrielle, her grandmother Rita Savoie of Eel River Crossing, many aunts, uncles and cousins and a very large number of extended family and friends for whom she cared deeply. Becca was predeceased by her grandparents Donat Savoie, Carl and Dot Schofield.
As a child, Becca was affectionate, friendly, generous, and curious. That curiosity got her into more than a few scrapes, including a hot dog up her nose, a close call with an electrical outlet and a fork, a hospital visit after taking her grandmother’s medication and many more. Becca trailed behind her big sister like a shadow, and wanted to do everything she did. Gabrielle never let her down.
Becca loved summers at the family cottage, hanging out with family and friends, books, trying new foods, cooking, music, games, ringette, and movies.
Becca was 15 years old when a brain tumour was found in 2015. After enduring surgery and recovery and then months of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatments, two new inoperable tumors were found in Dec 2016 and she was given 3 to 12 months to live. As a family, they decided they would make the most of the time they had left, taking every day as a gift and filling it with laughter and love. Becca thought of some modest bucket list items, things like playing with a litter of puppies, going on a trip with her family, and playing board games. With amazing grace and strength, Becca wrote on her facebook group (Becca’s Battle with Butterscotch) "Please try to think less of how my life will be cut short and more of how wicked awesome my time left will be!" She also requested that people perform acts of kindness and record it on social media under #BeccaToldMeTo. Becca had a kind heart, and had long been puzzled about why anyone would be unkind to others. #BeccaToldMeTo was her attempt to leave the world a better place, to make her short time here count.
Although she often didn’t feel well throughout her cancer journey, her last year did have many wicked awesome moments. With wonderful support from our community her bucket list items were checked off one by one. With amazing support from people around the world, it gave her tremendous pleasure that people were performing acts of kindness, and especially stories from those who were inspired by her to make life-altering changes in their own lives.
Becca’s efforts to make the world a kinder place were recognized on a local, provincial and federal level, including The Governor General Meritorious Service Medal and the province of New Brunswick declaring an annual "Becca Schofield Day" on the third Saturday of September.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the National Kids Cancer Ride www.nationalkidscancerride, Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlanticwww.rmhatlantic.com , Friends of the Moncton Hospital (Pediatrics Unit)www.friendsfoundation.ca , the IWK www.iwkfoundation.org/donate, or the charity of your choice.
Thank you to the staff at Moncton Hospital and IWK for their wonderful care, and to our family, friends, co-workers, community, and churches for the hundreds of ways you have supported us through this journey, and for the many acts of kindness performed in Becca’s name.
Becca’s Family will be receiving relatives and friends at St. Paul’s United Church, 404 Cleveland Ave. Riverview on Tuesday from 1:30 – 4:00 PM and from 6:00 – 9:00 PM, An Ecumenical Service celebrating her life will take place on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 11:00 from The Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 5 Fatima Drive, Riverview with Father Phil Mulligan and Rev. Dr. Andy O’Neill officiating. There will be overflow seating in the church hall (Father Dan Bohan Center). The arrangements are entrusted to Cobb’s Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 330 Whitepine Road, Riverview (869-2007). Online condolences can be expressed at www.cobbsfuneralhome.ca