Olive Wilkie passed away peacefully the morning of August 21, 2009 at the age of 96 at Ridge-Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge, BC. Olive was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Nester in 2008. She is survived by her loving daughter Nicki (Stan) Pukesh, her grandchildren, Stephen (Karen), Neil (Rachel) and 3 beautiful great-grand children, Camryn, Taylor and Jeremy who brought great joy to Baba as well as nephews, nieces and cousins.
Olive was born in the Ukraine in 1913 coming to Oakburn, Manitoba in 1921. Olive graduated from Misericordia Hospital in Winnipeg in 1937 as a Registered Nurse. Olive met Nester, in Yorkton, Sask. in 1939. The eve of WWII found them on the West Coast and they were married on March 26, 1941. Olive spent over 29 years in the nursing profession retiring from Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital – Vancouver in 1966. For the next 9 years, she worked with Nester operating the cafeteria at the Catholic Charities building in Vancouver, finally retiring to Salt Spring Island where they resided for the next 30 years. Olive was an active golfer and involved as a volunteer in the Lady Minto Hospital Thrift Store. Nester and Olive moved to Maple Ridge in 2004 residing with their daughter and family. Olive was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother (Baba) who demonstrated the art of love, caring and compassion. Olive’s life was a gift to us all.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke’s Roman Catholic Church, 20285 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, BC, followed by a reception.
Flowers gratefully declined, donations may be made to St. Luke’s Building Fund-Maple Ridge, BC.