Penny Lynn Wilk was born on November 29, 1945 in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, where she lived her entire life. She was the second child and the only girl of five children, born to Victor and Dorothy Wilk. She sadly passed away at the Dawson Creek & District Hospital on March 18, 2011 at the age of 65.

Penny attended school at the Tremblay elementary school then graduated from the South Peace Secondary school. After graduation she worked as a telephone operator for B.C. Tel. She then shared a home with a friend and co-worker named Ethel Deak, who later introduced Penny to her brother Bill. Bill and Penny were married on September 4, 1965. They started their life together in a downstairs apartment in town. In the fall of 1966 they bought a home of their own in the Canalta area.

Their son Darren was born in 1967. For 9 years they kept the home but then moved out to their farm in Kilkerran. Every spring they would stay in a small cabin with no running water, moving back to town every fall.

The family recalls kind of a funny story to share with you. While staying at the cabin Penny got a shock when she looked out to see 6 year old Darren sitting in the yard playing with his toys, and not too far from him was a black bear also playing with Darren’s toys, flinging them around. Penny, in a panic called Mr. Hagloff across the road. Mr. Hagloff never packed a gun but he did show up with an axe, which that bear promptly took away from him. They all managed to escape across the road to Hagloff’s to await Bill’s return. Bill got his rifle and went looking for the bear but it was nowhere to be found: Until two weeks later on a Sunday morning when Bill was in the outside biffy. He opened the door only to find the bear staring back at him. He made it back to the cabin with the bear following closely, but once Bill reached his rifle needless to say Penny never had to worry about that bear again!

In the fall during hunting season, Bill was such an avid hunter that Penny was usually left to do the fall move back to town all by herself. In the spring of 1977 she finally got fed up with moving so she gave Bill the ultimatum; either the farm or town. No more moving! Of course Bill chose the farm. They sold the house in town and built their new home on the farm where she lived until her passing.

Penny loved her home life and enjoyed her flower gardens and the many trees she and Bill planted together. She could often be seen wandering around the farm with her sheep Petunia who followed her everywhere.

Penny was an active member of the Kilkerran women’s institute as well as the Kilkerran Recreation Commission. She cooked for many events and was known far & wide for her delicious baked beans.

She may only had one child of her own but she was a surrogate mother to many children from neighboring farms as she babysat often over the years.

Penny’s parents and brothers moved away from Dawson Creek to Victoria shortly after she was married so they made a yearly trip to the Island to visit until her parents passing. Her one and only real vacation was a trip to Disneyland with Bill & Darren, otherwise she just loved her home on the farm and was really content to stay right there. She was a wonderful cook and enjoyed family gatherings with her grandchildren Kayla & Dallas and later on step grandchildren Jessica & Steven.
Penny & Bill always enjoyed playing cards and visiting with friends and neighbors who have all become lifelong friends.

In 1989 Penny took a bad fall injuring both legs and was flown to Vancouver. She never fully recovered from this accident and as the years went by she eventually needed a wheelchair, but never had idle hands. She was always busy with her crafts and bead work. Many who knew her will have a string of her beautiful beaded Christmas bells. We will have a lasting memory for years to come when we hang up Penny’s bells.

Our loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, you will be terribly missed but we know you are at peace now. You will live forever in our hearts. Penny was cremated and a memorial service was held on Friday, March 26, 2011 at the Bergeron Funeral Chapel with Pauline Haycock officiating.

Memorial services entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd.
250-782-2577 • Dawson Creek, BC • 800-577-4877