Olive Gaynor Rees

We are sad to announce the peaceful death of Olive Gaynor Rees, née Hopkins, at age 96 on March 1, 2025 at Casa Mia Care Home in Vancouver.

Gaynor was not only a great mum and fantastic grandma but also an artist, a teacher, a knitter, and a dreamer. She was born and grew up in South Wales where she met and married the love of her life, Graham Rees in August, 1952.

She became a teacher and worked in London, England in the early 1950s. Gaynor and Graham then moved to Mitchelton, southern Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1955. They taught there for a few years, then in 1960 moved to Mossbank, Saskatchewan. Gaynor’s teaching career in Mossbank was interrupted for two years in the mid 1960s when she and Graham as well as their young children Megan and Huw moved to Great Whale River, Quebec, and Fort Churchill, Manitoba to teach in northern Canada. Gaynor was a dedicated teacher whose passion for education inspired countless students and brought joy to the classroom. The elaborate high school drama productions, “stained glass” school Christmas windows, and the huge painted mural backdrops she created for figure skating festivals became legendary in Mossbank. Gaynor continued to teach and tutor part-time for several more years after she and Graham retired and moved to Nanaimo, British Columbia in 1990. She was an accomplished folk-art painter, Welshcake baker, creative knitter, and lifelong reader. She also became a passionate gardener during her retirement. She was deeply committed to supporting the local and global community and actively supported various charities. She took part in the Welsh society and volunteered as an English tutor to help new Canadians gain confidence and new opportunities.

Gaynor was predeceased by her husband Graham (2010), her older sister Sylvia Morgan, and younger brother Hubert Hopkins. She will be missed by her daughter Megan, son-in-law Stefan Wiedemann, and grandchildren Evan and Bronwen, and her son Huw, daughter-in-law Henrike, and grandchildren Anwen and Owen.

We will always remember her remarkable strength, wisdom, humor, kindness, generosity and boundless love - her imagination brought warmth and wonder to those lucky enough to know her, and she leaves behind a legacy of love that will forever be cherished.

There will be no public remembrance service. In lieu of flowers or cards, please send a donation to Team Broken Earth University of Saskatchewan Training Program: Haiti Orthopaedic Surgery:

https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=2250&AID=6469

Megan and Huw