December 16, 1927 - February 1, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
Born Dec 16, 1927 In Rotherham England, Died Feb 1, 2024 Abbotsford, BC
Edna was predeceased by husband of 72 years, Jim Lee.
She is survived by daughters Angela (Chuck Brooks) Lee, Jennifer (John) Worswick; grandchildren Jason (Julie) Zenzen, Phil (Jessica) Zenzen, Wesley (Judy) Worswick and Kimberley (Anthony) Gialleonardo, and four great-grandchildren, Robyn, Reese and Levi Zenzen and James Gialleonardo.
Mom met and married Dad in 1950 and they emigrated to Canada in 1954. Dad's engineering jobs took him to small towns in northern Ontario, and mom gamely followed, learning to really hate the snow and cold.
Their girls were born in Ontario, but in 1966 the family moved to British Columbia, mostly in search of better weather, but there were good job opportunities there, and the family settled first in Tsawwassen, and then Langley in 1969.
On 35 acres in Langley, they became gentleman farmers, mom joked that Dad was the gentleman and she was the farmer. Which wasn't far from the truth as Mom did most of the animal care as well as chairing the PTA at Wix-Brown elementary in the late 1960s, as Dad commuted into Vancouver daily.
Edna was one of the Rotary wives, as Dad was a Rotarian and it was exclusively a men's club in those days, but the wives were active with the fundraising and community events.
Mom kept the household running, the animals, the garden, canning, and care of the family were her priorities. She involved herself in all the girls activities, was at every Langley Flippers swim meet, every Job's Daughters meeting, and every school event and meet the teachers night.
Once the girls were gone, they moved off the farm to a home in Abbotsford where Rotary and grandchildren figured largely in Mom's life, as well as travel.
Through Rotary they went on three trips, one across Canada, one through Australia and one through Africa. Many international friendships were forged on these trips. They cruised frequently and did some all - inclusive Mexico trips. Mom enjoyed the pampering of these holidays!
They moved to Gibsons to a condo with an ocean view, and Mom loved her chair in the living room, where she could watch the harbor and marina, and see the cruise ships go by. Mom enjoyed many friendships in Gibsons, and she did a lot of walking there, it was where she gave up driving, but Dad often took her out in the afternoons, for a walk on the beach or to one of their favorite parks.
In 2014 they moved to assisted living in Avalon Gardens in Langley where they had so many happy years and friends and family in the area. Edna loved the Avalon very much, she felt safe and connected to a loving community, especially after Dad passed away in 2022.
Mom moved to Oxford Seniors Care in Abbotsford on Dec 8, 2023. She rallied the family around her for her 96th birthday party, where 20 people that loved her celebrated this huge milestone.
From that day forward, she declined, as she wished. She orchestrated a beautiful ending to a wonderful life lived with joy. She passed away peacefully on Feb 1, 2024.