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GEORGINA "BERNICE" PETTY

GEORGINA "BERNICE" PETTY

Born In: Merritt, British Columbia, Canada
Born: April 7th, 1916

Passed in: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Passed on: December 16th, 2013

GEORGINA "Bernice" PETTY
April 7, 1916 - December 16, 2013
Bernice (Mom) has flown away into the great mystery that is our Creator and God.
Mom was born in the Merritt Hospital and grew up on a ranch south of Merritt by the Coldwater River near Kingsvale.
Her parents were Arthur and Sarah Patchett. She had five brothers Donald, Roy, Cyril, Lee and Jimmy and two sisters Ruth Coleman and Jean McMillan. Jean is the lone surviving member of her generation and lives in Peterborough. Mom's love of nature was rooted in those early ranching days. She loved horseback riding with her brothers, the berry picking, collecting bugs and swimming in cold water. She enjoyed piano, accordion, bagpipe music and any song with a yodel.
Bernice became a children's nurse, and then graduated from the first class of Psychiatric nursing at Riverview Hospital in Essondale, B.C. During her years of training, she made lifelong friends, one of whom was to be the love of her life, my Dad Jack Petty. The "gang" enjoyed their days off with long bike rides and hikes into the North Shore Mountains. She and my DAD were married in 1941 and they lived in Langley where Dad continued the family business, Rosecroft Nursery. A few years after I was born, Mom was invited to return to work due to a shortage of nurses. She enjoyed her work caring for severely handicapped children and adults at Woodland School in New Westminster for over 20 years.
In their retirement years, they moved and make many friends on Salt Spring Island, Victoria and Chilliwack. Dad passed away in 1997.
Mom always made the most of life enjoying camping, rock hounding, crafts including lapidary and jewelry making, belonging to the Naturalist Club and travel. She was a lifetime member of the Langley Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and Past Matron of Tricomali Chapter, Salt Spring Island. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Nile. It was in her late years that Bernice's artistic talents really took off and truly blossomed.
Mom will be greatly missed by her daughter Joy (Jim) Gothard of Kamloops, Dylan Gothard (Nancy Hofer) of Courtenay, Owen (Kim) Gothard of Kamloops, her sister Jean, her sisters- in-law and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
We would like to thank Dr. Doug Hamilton, all the staff at Berwick on the Park, her painting buddies, Joyce Popein, Bonnie Tindall and Suzy Knox, and her "flower-daughter", Jan Surline. Together, we were a great team, giving Bernice the best quality of life until her last breath.
Mom's greatest gift was that you just knew she was your friend who's sparkling eyes gave encouragement and unconditional love.
Please join us for a Celebration of Bernice's life at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. The Service will be presided by Dean Louise Peters. A luncheon will follow the service. Bernice's ashes will be buried beside those of her husband, Jack in Langley in the spring.
Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism, 1111 Tranquille Road, Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3J8.

 

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