Obituaries

Mom's big heart gave out on May 24th, Queen Victoria’s birthday, in her 95th year. She had always said that she wanted to live to be a 100 years old. Mom loved life, her kith & kin & her nursing profession.

Known to many as Nonie, she was born at the Royal Inland Hospital in August 1926 the day the Opera House burnt down in Kamloops. Her father owned a garage being the first mechanic to bring wheel alignments into the interior of the province and her mother worked for years at the Museum & Archives. Her maternal grandparents, Blake & Eleanor Stokes ran a jewerlly & watch repair shop in Kamloops after moving here from Armstrong. Her parental grandparents, Alexander & Jean Dalgarno were Apple Ranchers in Vernon who had immigrated from Scotland. She attended Lloyd George Elementary School & graduated from Kam High. She began Nursing training on the same day that her younger brother Blake started Grade 1. She was the top honour graduate of the RIH School of Nursing and obtained further studies in Mental Health at Essondale as a Registered Nurse. After graduation she worked "Specials" -- accompanying patients by train to Vancouver for treatment. Her and a fellow grad headed off on a great adventure to Portland, Oregon and worked at the hospital & later in a doctor's office. She came home to marry Steve in 1950 at the Kamloops United Church. Together they were married for 52 years. She nursed at the Royal Inland Hospital for over 45 years as well as at Ponderosa Lodge. She always worked as the Night Supervisor while raising 5 children at home. And always the caregiver, she cared for her husband, mother & aunt for many years. She was an avid knitter and she loved to sew to share her love with others. All of her birthday Angel Food cakes will long be remembered. She loved the flowers in her garden & especially the wild daisies near their cabin at East Barriere Lake. Over the years she had six replacement surgeries, hips, shoulders, and knees. She said that this was a sign of an old nurse. At age 75 years she learned to operate a computer and was on-line with her family. Her grandchildren named her Gma - high tech Gma. She so enjoyed her fun Red Hat days with an Alaskan Cruise and a trip to the Price is Right and more. She loved to travel and enjoyed trips through out Canada, Scotland, China, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Hawaii & the United States. She was a life time member of the Kamloops United Church and she worked at the Action Desk for ten years before the move from her apartment in August 2013.

Special thanks to the Active Care Seniors Services for their home style assisted living for three years - her home away from home. And to the Interior Health Care workers for their home-in care at Active Care. Thank you to Ridgeview Lodge for their 24 hour care that she required after hospitalization in 2016, as she simply had 'forgotten how to walk'. You know who you are & how you assisted mother; many above the call of duty -“do small things with great love". Our gratitude to Navy Sahota, Nurse Practitioner, for her professional, respectful & compassionate care.

There is no service by request. If you wish, kindly make donations to the Alzheimers Walk for Memories that Mom walked, with her walker, in May 2016. “Crash-Bang!" (The nickname she gave herself). Her ashes will be placed in the Gateway Gardens (Circle of Friends) at the Hillside Cemetery where her family members are buried.

She is survived by her children, Rod (Bonnie), Bill, Ann (Philip), Mary, Pamela (Allan). Foster daughter, Dianne de Yaeger. Grandchildren, Doug, Keith, Stephanie, Adam (Meena), Ashley, Jasmine, Stephen, Blake & Lily. Great grandchildren, Caiden, Bailey, Cub, Hollis, Alexa, Isabelle, Iyla, Nalina & Sohana Eleanor. Her dear brother, Blake (Edith) of Calgary, niece Bernice & nephew Ian. Also, nephew Norman & nieces Beverly, Teresa & Linda. She was predeceased by her husband Steve & her parents, Bill & Jean (Stokes) Gordon & her dear Aunt Joyce of Joyce's Millinery.

"I ask for everyone who knew me to take a moment today to remember me; then go and tell your family and friends how much you love them and what they mean to you. Sometimes you have to let one story end so another can begin. Forget me not! Look for me in the flowers! Fare thee well love ... “

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