Agnes Wilson

Predeceased by her husband, Don, in 2001, she is survived by her sisters-in-law, Barb Broadbent and Wanda McGillivray, by her six children - Jim, Wayne (Lorna), Cheryl Greenwood (Brian), Alan, Judy Pachon (Andre), and Drew (Tracie), and by dozens of wonderful grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Mom started her early life on that Canadian prairie farm and, at 10 years old, the family moved to the Lower Mainland. She graduated from Duke of Connaught High School and attended Normal School in Vancouver to become a school teacher. Her first job was in Lillooet, where she met our Dad, and their family life took off and grew from there, as more kids came along and as we moved to Vancouver, Terrace, Victoria, and then to Kelowna in the late 1960s.

While Mom only spent a few years in the classroom, she remained the consummate teacher - and all of us remember her eager and patient help and direction in learning to draw everything from birds and trees to little landscape sketches, flowers and, of course, her efforts to help us keep up with our homework and to teach the grandchildren how to read. She wrote poems and stories, played a mean hand of poker and rummoli, was musical, artful, creative, and loved the comfort she got from a full view of the landscapes and nature around her wherever we lived.

In everything Mom did, she was kind and thoughtful - there’s a saying with our family…’What would Agnes do?’ She was generous, wise, and insightful, eternally patient, and she supported every one of us through all our lives’ wins and losses, growth and setbacks, and she took particular pleasure in the growing stream of grandchildren and great grandchildren we produced. Through all these wonderful traits, she was never a pushover, and she remained a woman who was a strong advocate for the women of our family in making and taking their place.

When Mom turned 80 years old, we worked with her to publish a touching collection of her stories of growing up and growing older. All of the family treasure their signed copy of that wonderful book which she titled, Landing With No Permanent Damage (a line taken from the concluding poem in that book).

Mom lived at Sandalwood Retirement Resort for the past 12 years and had an absolutely wonderful time there, where she became a regular on the dance floor, a good friend to so many others, and a steady and ready helping hand to both the staff and her many friends. I’m sure that many at Sandalwood received hand-painted cards for birthdays and other important occasions.

The family would like to thank the exceptional and compassionate staff of 6W and Emergency at KGH and the doctors for their guidance and care of our Mom, and also thank the caring staff at Kelowna Hospice. Our brother’s daughter, Kelsie, stepped in and cared for Mom in wonderful ways in her final hours. Thank you!

No service will be held per Mom’s wishes; and the wider family and friends will be holding a gathering at Lillooet for both our parents in the near future.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Don and Agnes Wilson Endowment Fund (at the Central Okanagan Foundation www.centralokanaganfoundation.org 306-1726 Dolphin Avenue, Kelowna BC V1Y9R9) in support of the Kelowna Museums - where both Mom and Dad spent countless hours as volunteers.

Mom, you have Landed With No Permanent Damage.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com. Arrangements entrusted to First memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC. 250-762-2299