July 8th, 1936 – Feb. 13th, 2026
Jocelyn Holmes, born July 8th, 1936 to Lillian and Horace Phelps, passed away February 13 at the Victoria General Hospital following a very sudden illness.
Together with her brothers Norman, Richard, and Jimmy, Jocelyn (affectionately known as Josie, Jo, Lyn, Mum, Grandma, and Greaty to many) spent her early years watching World War 2 unfold from her home town of Sidcup in Kent, England. She was one of the many children sent to live with host families outside of London, safely away from the London bombings.
Jocelyn later met Toni Holmes and, in 1957, they moved to Canada to start a better life. Although this new adventure landed them in Vancouver with no more than five dollars and a bag of oranges to their name, Jocelyn always said, “It was the best thing I ever did.” Eventually they settled on Salt Spring Island in 1976 to finish raising their family. It was here on Salt Spring that both of them felt they had truly found home.
Jocelyn contributed to her community in a multitude of ways over the years: providing a loving foster home for many young children, running a successful Health Food Store, owning a catering business she called Another Pair of Hands, managing Country Grocer’s floral department, presiding as president of the SSI Tennis Association, and volunteering at the SSI Public Library, SSI Seniors Centre, and ArtSpring.
After all her children had left home, Jocelyn ventured off on a solo ‘walk about’ around the world, a trip which gave her endless pleasure and wonderful memories. She loved to walk, play tennis, quilt, and paint, but perhaps she was best known for her fabulous garden which seemed to have life and colour no matter what the season.
Jocelyn was a rare, wonderful woman; strong, feisty, and opinionated yet always quick to humour, generous, and adoring. She will be greatly missed by her many friends, her loving children Claire, Robert, and Andrew, and her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We love you, Mum.