1914-2009

For a woman who epitomized the phrase “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” the “going” finally got too tough…

Molly passed away peacefully in her 95th year on July 30, 2009. She was predeceased by her husband, Patrick, in 2001. Molly will be sadly missed by her son, Doug; daughter Pat Antonik (Mike); grandchildren Waylon (Azy), Aran, Kelsey and Scott and by her great-granddaughter Ella.

She leaves many relatives in both Scotland and Ireland and her many friends from Coquitlam, Penticton and more recently Salt Spring Island.

Our most sincere thanks to Dr. Woodley, Braehaven, Lady Minto and Home Care staff for their generous and loving care…she loved all of you.

Memorial Tea at Braehaven, Thursday, August 6th at 3:00pm.

January 22, 2007-July 29, 2009

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ashlyn Jane Lacey,daughter of Sarah Stark and John Lacey, granddaughter of Peter

and Jean Stark.

We had 2 and 1/2 years of great joy and happiness.

She will be greatly missed.

Donalda Margaret (nee Gillis), died on Tuesday,

July 28, 2009, at Lady Minto Hospital, Salt Spring

Island. Donnie was born on July 11, 1929, at Port

Alberni, B.C., to Warren and Margaret Gillis (nee

Forster). The family lived on Vancouver Island

before settling in 1938 in Surrey, where both

Warren and Margaret had been born. Donnie

attended South Westminster Elementary School

and Queen Elizabeth Secondary School. She was

always an excellent student, shone in school dramatic presentations, and

in her fi nal year was elected student council president, the fi rst girl to hold

the post. She then attended U.B.C. and Provincial Normal School. Her fi rst

teaching position took her to a one-room school in Lund, B.C., where she

met and fell in love with George MacKenzie. They were married in 1951,

and embarked on the adventures of a lifetime together. George’s work in

the forest industry took them to a number of B.C. locations: Port McNeill,

Surrey, Penticton, Merritt, Greenwood, Burns Lake, Kitimat and Prince

George. Donnie raised the family, taught periodically and corresponded

prodigiously. After George’s retirement, they lived briefl y in Greenwood,

but following his early death in 1988 she lived in Surrey and Abbotsford.

In 1998 she moved to Salt Spring Island to share her life with Ray

Hill, whom she had known since Normal School days, and who with his

wife Beth had remained a lifelong friend. Donnie and Ray were keenly

interested in current events, both local and global, and enjoyed a mutual

pleasure in social events on Salt Spring. Both had experienced declining

health in recent months, and Ray’s death on May 28 preceded hers by only

a few weeks.

Donnie is survived by her sons Stewart (Colleen), Neil (Mary Beth), and

Andy (Cathy), and her daughter Leith Ridley, and their families. She is also

survived by her sister, Joan Parolin (Joe), & brother Ken Gillis.

A celebration of Donnie’s life will be held at First Memorial, 14835 Fraser

Highway, Surrey, at 2:00 on August 15, 2009.

If anyone so wishes, contributions in Donnie’s memory to Lady Minto

Hospital Foundation (135 Crofton Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 1T1)

would be accepted with gratitude, in lieu of flowers

We regret to announce that

Jean Jefferies passed away two days before her 88th birthday. A long Salt Spring Island resident, she had moved to Vernon a few short years ago. Predeceased by her husband Henry, she is survived by sons Alan, Robert, Michael and many grandchildren.

At her request there will be no service.

January 7, 1944 – July 18, 2009

John died as he lived — with joy, gratitude, wonder, humor, and amazing spiritual clarity and wisdom, defying the effects of brain cancer diagnosed 15 months ago. John was born in Jackson, Mississippi and raised in New York. He moved to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia Canada in 1988. He was a devoted member of the Baha’i Faith and embodied its teaching to “let your vision be world embracing rather than confined to your own selves.” He was adored by his family, including his twin brother Tommy, sister Linda, in-laws Dan and Farahnaz, nephews Chris and Craig and nieces Zhena and Nava. For 17 years, he was a Walt Disney imagineer, art director and show producer. As a boy, his nickname was “Mr. Toad” because he moved so fast. He later designed “Mr. Toad’s wild ride” at Disneyland. John received his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon and Brandeis. His 40-year career as a designer spanned the worlds of opera, theatre, exhibit design, television, film, and university professorships. He was the lead designer for “Asia” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida and spent 6 years in Japan as Director of Design and Production for Tokyo Disneyland. His Disney colleagues called him a “quintessential gentleman.”

In 1990 on Salt Spring, John, with sister Linda Kavelin Popov and brother-in-law Dr. Dan Popov founded The Virtues Project, a global initiative inspiring people of all cultures and beliefs to live by their highest values. It has spread to more than 96 countries and has been endorsed by the United Nations and the Dalai Lama. John was a director of Green Islands, the board of ArtSpring, and a member of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Salt Spring. Of all John’s creative projects, the two most meaningful to him were The Virtues Project and his design for the Baha’i World Congress in New York in 1992. John’s family and countless friends will always remember his sweet nature, wit and humor, loyalty and wise mentoring. John and our family are deeply grateful for the compassionate care from our local palliative nurses, Dr. Dan Leavitt, Dr. Bob Crossland, and the staff at Lady Minto.

A celebration of his life will be held Friday, July 24th at 11 am at Harbour House.

All are welcome.

(previously Burrows, nee Price)

1921-2009

Fern Schoch passed away peacefully after a short illness on July 15, 2009, with her husband Peter Schoch by her side. She will be dearly missed by Peter and by her daughter, Valerie Wasylishen and son Jim Burrows (Patti Olson); son in-laws Rod Wasylishen and Doug Campbell (Susan); step-sons Gren and Arn Schoch; and grandchildren Tim Campbell (Irene and Silas) and Robyn Campbell (Darren Wasylucha), Stephen and Eric Wasylishen, as well as nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Alexei and Ana Wasylucha. Fern was born and grew up in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. Despite the depression she took piano and clarinet lessons, played the church organ and sang in the church choir. She often talked about playing underage at different bars and community dance halls around the Qu’Appelle Valley.

She worked for the RCMP as a stenographer in Regina prior to marrying James Burrows (1961-1997) and continued this job during his war-time absence, until 1945. At that time they moved to Kingston, Ontario where their three children were born and Jim worked for Alcan. 1958 brought a move to Arvida, P.Q., quite a change and a challenge for the family. Fern soon became active with curling, golf, bridge and the Anglican Church. Her children remember Fern as a loving mother, not to mention fantastic cook. She married Peter Schoch in Bagotville, P.Q. in 1971 and the couple lived in various parts of Canada, finally settling in British Columbia in 1977.

Fern’s love of golf carried into memberships at the Royal Colwood and Cowichan Valley clubs in the 80s and 90s, to the point of being Ladies Captain at Cowichan Valley in the 1990’s. She was still enjoying a good game into her 80’s.

In 2004, they moved to Salt Spring Island where her son Jim and his wife Patti resided and could support them as they grew older. Fern had braved the tragic loss of her second daughter, Donna in 1995, taking solace in the company of friends and family and continuing her long-standing interest in bridge, golf and music; she played the piano until near the end of her life.

Thanks to the staff at Greenwoods for their care and concern during her stay of almost 3 years and to Dr. James White and the other kind medical staff at Lady Minto Gulf Islands Hospital. Donations in her memory can be made to your favorite charity.

(nee Hinton)

1918-2009

We bring you the sad news of the peaceful passing of Joy Alderson this past July 14th on Salt Spring Island. Due to an advanced state of osteoporosis, a cracked pelvis took Joy to the hospital where she unfortunately succumbed to a serious infection. She passed away in her sleep after two weeks of family and friends around her at the marvellous facility on Salt Spring. Joy is survived by her husband Eric, daughter Lucy and son Tim as well as nieces and nephews in the UK. She will be remembered as a great mother, the most loving person we know, for her generosity, her sense of humour, her horticultural exploits and her practical and elegant approach to life.

Born in Ireland where her father was posted as a military officer, Joy spent her early years in England. From about the age of nine through her early teens, she and her brother were raised in France. Along the way, Joy became an accomplished horsewoman. She followed in the footsteps of her mother Phyllis, the long time editor of Riding, the pre-eminent international magazine of the English Style.

In London during the war, Joy along with countless other young women her age, worked in the Intelligence Services breaking and handling enemy codes. After a couple of years of listless and restless times following the war, Joy embarked on the adventure of Canada. She lived for a time with friends of friends in Toronto before taking a position as Governess to a younger girl, in the employ of a well-to-do widower who had lost his wife due to illness. They lived in Toronto as well as on his farm north of the city where the horses were kept and where she could teach this young person how to ride.

It was at this farm that an English Army Officer answered an advertisement for Farm Manager. This man would become her husband of fifty-six years. After a time, these two would answer another ad to manage a farm and raise a family in nearby Aurora, Ontario. That position eventually turned into a business proposition that kept them in the area until retirement in 1986. That December, they moved lock, stock and barrel to above the Booth Inlet, near Ganges on Salt Spring Island, BC. The beauty, slower pace and mild, moderate weather of this lovely little corner of the world has made for a happy retirement. Joy had a long and interesting life but she will be missed. For anyone seeking more news, please write to aldersontimothy@gmail.com

January 31, 1917 – July 08, 2009

The world just got a little less fun. Joy Irene Brocus passed away July 8th, 2009 in her 92nd year. That amazing heart finally quit.

Predeceased by her partner Don Beach, her parents William and Violet Brannan and brother Reg Brannan, Joy leaves her sister-in-law Betty Brannan, nieces Sidney Brannan (Caitlan Irving-Brannan) and Catherine Brannan (Jeremy and Justine Simons).

With her wonderful sense of the absurd, Joy regaled all with her stories of New Zealand, her skating days with “Holidays on Ice,” and her soft spot for the fly-boys of World War II.

Joy lived for many years on Gillies bay, Texada Island prior to moving to Galiano Island. She was an inspired gardener and a lover of nature and all its creatures.

The family would like to thank the staff at Greenwood Extended Care for their loving care, Dr. H. DeKock, Ann Royal, and her wonderful support group on Galiano Island.  

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to

the SPCA.

(nee WALLEEN)

Born March 21, 1950. A Mother, Nana, Sister, Aunt and Friend to many passed away peacefully June 29, 2009, far too young at the age of 59, at Langley Memorial Hospital, after a long courageous battle with cancer. Val is preceded in death by her parents, Noreen and Rudy Walleen, and her best friend Tipper. She leaves behind her daughter Alana, her son Brett (Jennifer), her brother Vern (Penny), and her sister Darlee, and of course, Nana’s little Munkee Noah, and Percy the father of her children and a friend ‘til the end, and many wonderful and dear friends.

Born in Victoria, shortly after graduation she moved to Vancouver where she met her then husband Percy. They decided to move to Pender Island in 1974 where they raised their children, and continued to live for 32 years. She then moved to Salt Spring in 2007 to be closer to her daughter Alana and Alana’s son Noah. In her final weeks she moved to Langley to be closer to her son Brett and his wife Jennifer.

Her life was devoted to her family and friends. She was loving, kind, warm and generous to all who crossed her path. Even in these last weeks of her life, Val displayed patience, grace, courage and strength.

She left a lasting impression on everyone she met because she cared so much about people and she was so inspiring. Her faith and hope stayed strong and she still gave all her love and care to those around her despite the illness she was stricken with. She stayed positive and she remained a shining light in the world no matter how difficult her life was.

She will be missed dearly, and remembered fondly.

Val’s Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, July 18th at 1:00 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion on Pender Island.