Skip to content
December 30, 1919 - December 9, 2021
Violet Edith Robertson (Nanny), aged 101 of Nanaimo, B.C. passed away peacefully early on Dec 9th just a few weeks short of her 102nd birthday.
She was born in London, England on Dec 30, 1919 to Robert Henry & Rose Cross, one of nine children.
She grew up in the Chelsea area of London, and it was here that she met John Robertson, a Canadian soldier, at the cafe where she was working.
After the first date that evening, he invited her to Aldershot the following day and proposed while they lay on the grass watching a dogfight going on in the sky above.
Six weeks later they were married. As a "camp follower" for next few years, she moved constantly as the army moved John from posting to posting. Donald and Lois, her children, were born over the next few years.
In 1945, she "followed" John back to Canada and it was here that the London city girl became a lifelong companion to an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish, hunt, and camp. Many of the stories of these years are contained in the much loved "The Book".
Army life was a continuous sequence of moves across the country from the cold winters of Fort Churchill, the balmy West Coast, and back to England twice. Nanaimo became the place they could finally set down some roots. It was here Violet & John embarked on a second career as beekeepers making many lifetime friends throughout the province.
Violet's love of collecting nicknacks ranged from pigs, to frogs, and many dolls. Her love of all kinds of things crafty kept her busy when she wasn't creating a wonderful meal in the kitchen.
Violet was predeceased by her parents and all of her siblings with the exception of Betty Alice, her sister in England, and sadly her only son Donald in 2020.
She is survived by her daughter Lois; grandchildren, Ken, Elliot, Gillian, Linden, Nathalie, and Dominque; and great grandchildren, Martney, Quinna, Connor, Gillian, Lochlan, Kaitlyn, Mathieu, and Liam.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Eden Gardens https://edengardens.ca/ where Violet spent her last 6 months.


Secondary Title

Your condolences will be approved within one business day. You will need a valid Facebook account. Please email us if you have any questions.