November 1, 1935 - April 26, 2021
It is with a very heavy heart that the family of Margaret "Jean" Stimpson (nee Hiller) announces that the last leg of her journey in Vernon BC on April 26, 2021 took her to join Bob Feist her companion of over 25 years. Along with Bob mom now also joins her niece Wanda Dyck, sister Helen Klassen, brother in law Pete Klassen; brother Ken Hiller and her parents Elnora and Emil Hiller.
Jean was born in Tacoma Washington on November 1, 1935. The youngest child of 3, the family crossed over into Canada and homesteaded in Pitt Meadows for a spell. They eventually made their way to Quesnel.
Mom waitressed at the 'Nugget' and thus began her Quesnel community journey. She worked for a time as a telephone switchboard operator, which she felt was her calling. She eventually moved to Vancouver with the hopes of becoming a radio communications specialist, but that didn't work out as she had planned.
Mom made her way over to Victoria which was the birthplace of her 3 children. After summer vacationing in Quesnel, Mom decided to move back to her "true home" and the family did so in the summer of 1976.
Mom kind of hit the ground running with her work as a Quesnel Homemaker, then at Borealis and the Anderson Residence. Eventually she started working at the Bus Depot Café where she became very well known by many in the community as "Mom".
During her working years she started to get involved in many clubs and organizations. Mom told me years later that she had met Bob long before they ever even had their "first date".
Eventually her daughter "Lori" and son "Bill" relocated and made their lives away from Quesnel leaving Mom and Holly to form a tight unbreakable bond. Sadly, Holly relocated to Vernon in 2007. Both felt the void, but Mom and Bob came for almost every Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and as much as possible in between the trips were back and forth.
When Mom lost Bob in 2015, Holly tried to talk her into moving to Vernon but mom was too involved in the Quesnel Community and she was truly happy. Eventually mom decided that she was ready to move to Vernon. This was set to happen in the summer of 2020. Not thinking the pandemic would impact our family, it was the reason mom decided to stay in Quesnel for 1 more year.
When her apartment sold in November I found a place for her in Vernon because she was still fiercely independent and did not want to live with me. We moved Mom down January 15, 2021. We all settled into a nice routine of family dinners with Mom and board games. Saturday was "girl's day" for Mom and me.
She was truly happy during her time living here and "felt spoiled" by us and in spite of "social restrictions" she did tell me that she did not feel lonely.
Mom is survived by her 3 children: "Lori" (Art) Schelfaut (Abbottsford); "Bill" (Colette) Stimpson (Port Hardy) and Holly (Ron) Stimpson (Vernon)
She was G'ma to her 10 grandchildren and their spouses: Thomas Ethier, Joe (Theresa) Ethier, Yvonne (Warren) Kean, Cathy (Dan) Ethier, Daniel Schelters, Steven Charters, Cage Stimpson, Arizona Stimpson, Mike Inscho and Chris (Jenna) Inscho.
Further to Mom's Legacy, her 5 great grandchildren: Phoenix, Zoey, Axel, Sage and Carson. A special thank you to Pam Devereux for all you did for mom, she loved and admired you and was so grateful that you made time for her.
Long before the pandemic, Mom's made her wishes known to not have any service.
Til we meet again Mom, 'Cheers'
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.