July 6, 1944 - January 16, 2020
On January 16, 2020, we lost a beautiful, bright, loving, caring, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many. Moving from Toronto to Nanaimo with her husband Wally in March 2006, she immersed herself in her new community and engaged in several community-based activities. Her primary interest and focus was the Nanaimo Women's Centre. She volunteered at the Centre in 2006, then joined the Board of Directors in 2007 and stayed on the Board through 2013.
She continued her support to the Centre and the Board through the following 6 years. Prior to coming to Nanaimo, she lived and worked in Toronto as a Program Director for Community Care East York. She attended St. Clements school in Toronto and Trinity College at the University of Toronto where she received her Bachelor of Arts in 1965.
She was convinced the best place to live in Canada was Nanaimo and enjoyed hosting friends and family from other parts of Canada. She leaves her husband Wally in Nanaimo, daughters Wendy Wells (Ray) of Toronto, Kelly Wells (Aaron) and two adoring grandsons Ben and Mack Beattie of Saskatoon, her sister Susan Challies (George) of Vancouver and sister-in-law Rianne Simo (Zoltan) of Toronto. She is dearly missed by her three closest friends and social buddies in Nanaimo, Myra Thomson, Carol Angers and Carolyn Bonvegna.
There will be a celebration of life at a later date. For those wishing to honour her legacy, donations are suggested to the Nanaimo Women's Centre through Society for Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy. (www.seia.ca). Donations may be made on-line, in person or by mail to Society at 14-285 Prideaux St., Nanaimo, BC V9R 2N2.