December 3, 1926 – October 21, 2013
at the age of 86 years
Pearl was born in Hedley, BC, the second child of four, all of whom predeceased her. In September 1942, her family moved to Britannia Beach where, when snow forced a school closure in early 1943, she took a job at the telephone office. There she learned to operate the switchboard and also an early IBM computer for the Britannia mine’s payroll, both jobs she held with the City of Vancouver where she moved in 1946. In 1947 she married Frank, whom she met at a YWCA dance. Their marriage spanned 52½ years until his passing in 2000. They began married life in Vancouver before going to Powell River, BC for a year and then Nelson, BC for six months. By 1950 they were in Vancouver where they stayed until 1965 when they moved to the BC Interior, living in Kamloops, BC for almost two years before finally settling in Silver Creek near Salmon Arm, BC in 1967. Frank’s retirement in 1981 took them to Sidney, BC for three years before returning to Silver Creek in 1984. In 2003 Pearl moved back to the Saanich Peninsula for two years before returning to live in Salmon Arm in 2005.
Mom, Grama, or G.G. will be greatly missed by her family: her two daughters, Julie Davies of Salmon Arm and Terri Elderton (David Lehton) of Sidney; four grandchildren, Clint Davies (Holly) and Brett Pukas (Tyler) of Salmon Arm, Graeme Jack (Elize) of Victoria and Kirstanne Jack of Vancouver; and four great-grandchildren, Georgia and Nicholas Davies, and Ryder and Dusty Pukas.
Julie and Terri extend their most sincere gratitude to the Interior Health palliative care workers who helped them support their mom with dying peacefully at home. Many thanks to care aides Bridget, Sherry, and Kathleen, as well as to nurses Brenda Shantz, and especially Nikki Parr, whose kindness extended above and beyond, allowing us to give Mom a loving farewell, fitting for her generous spirit.
No service is planned. The family will hold a private ceremony when Pearl’s ashes will be interred in Hedley, BC in May 2014.
Hi Terri and Julie , this is your long lost cousin Donna, my Mom Shirley sent me the , obituary that was in the paper for your mom, brought back so many memories from, me and you spending time on the farm in the summers, uncle Frank taught me how to drive a truck, at the young age of 13, to Me and Terri writting poetry in the barn. And then later in life connecting once again in Sidney. They and you two were such a part of my growing up, I am fortunate to still have my parents who are in Penticton, I live in Comox on Vavcouver Island Peace and Luv Donna Elderton
Hello, Kathi;
Thanks for contacting us and sharing your condolences and memories. I have often thought about those days in North Van and how I liked to sit on an old cedar stump and peek over the fence into your back yard. (I was quite a lonely kid then.) I remember Buzzy (Stephanie) too–and remember the time I had lunch with her and we pretended to use crutches with plungers or something. The other thing I recall is her telling me that on Halloween you kids had to eat spinach for dinner before going out trick-or-treating! She was not happy about that, of course.
So nice to hear from you. I’d love to hear how Stephanie is doing.
-Terri
Read the obituary for your Mom in the local Salmon Arm paper today…was so nice to see your family name again after all these years. When I read children Julie and Terri, I knew it was the right family. My family (Franklin’s) lived next door to your house on Underwood Rd in North Vancouver. Deepest condolences on the loss of your Mom…..it’s always hard to lose a loved one. I remember your Mom as a dark haired lady in her 40’s who had some really cool looking square dance dresses. I remember you, your sister Terri, your Mom and Dad and your dog Penny leaving for the interior in 1965….you were a Beatle loving teenager,and Terri was just a young girl, who was friends with my youngest sister Stephanie (Buzzy)
I too live in Salmon Arm (Blind Bay),having retired here in 2008.
So sorry to hear this news Julie..Enjoyed reading your Mom’s story..but I know it is hard to loose your Mom at any time..Love Cynde and Robin