Alice Fraser
October 26, 1918 – April 12, 2016
Mother to John (Jandi), Richard (Sarah), Pam (Drew), and Bruce (Catherine) – Grandmother to Graham, Lisa , JC, Alicia, Richard, Laura, Adam, Elizabeth, Claire, Jean, and Anya – Great Grandmother to Wyatt, Makenna, Raelyn, Amelia, Felix and Calvin.
Mom was orphaned at an early age and raised by a loving family, the Dawsons, in Victoria, BC. She was an exceptional student and graduated from Victoria High School two years early. Before marriage she worked in the Treasury Department. Had the times been different, we have no doubt that she could have risen to successfully manage the finances of the Province.
After her marriage to Jack in 1942, Mom focused on raising their four very active children, volunteering, gardening and learning to become a good golfer. She expressed her artistic side through flower arranging for which she won many awards.
Mom and Dad moved to Salt Spring Island in 1974 for their retirement. There they kept active and fully enjoyed the island lifestyle. Mom volunteered at the Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary, golfed and gardened and together with Dad was a keen square dancer. She took up painting and became skilled in watercolour. She was very pleased that she was able to sell enough of her works to “cover her costs.”
A great joy of Mom’s life was watching her family grow, first with grandchildren and later great grandchildren. She had a lovely singing voice and did a lively rendition of “the Teddy Bears Picnic” for her grandchildren.
Mom had an incredible memory (which sometimes worked to the disadvantage of other family members) and maintained throughout her life an interest in all that was going on about her, both locally and internationally. She had firm views as to how the world should be run. Mom loved to get out and see the world. At 82 she was hopping on and off a canal boat in South Western France.
Although having health issues in her last couple of years, she assured her family that she was grateful to have had “a very good life”, rich in loving family and friends.
We could not ask for a more caring Mom, Grandmom, Great Grandmom.
Memorial service and reception to follow to be held at All Saints’ by-the-Sea, 110 Park Drive, Saltspring Island, on Friday, May 13 at 2:30PM.