Lynda May Kelly

It is with sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Lynda Kelly at Langley Hospice at the age of 83, after a 6-month struggle with a brain tumour. She leaves behind to mourn her husband of 58 years, Rodger, children Laura (and spouse Sean) and Stephen (and spouse Diane) and grandchildren Ben, Abby, Katie, Enya and Tegwyn.

She was a sweet and caring woman with a passion for reading, gardening and a quiet time. She also enjoyed practicing Tai Chi and her weekly coffee meetings with her friends.

Lynda was born in Taunton, England, and waited out the war on a family farm at Nether Stowey near Bridgewater, Somerset. Her family then moved to Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she grew up and worked, providing confidential secretarial services for the Permanent Secretary and the Minister of Finance in the N. Ireland Civil Service.

In 1965, she married her life-long love, Rodger, and they started their life together in Rugby, England. They returned to Londonderry, N. Ireland, just months before the start of the civil unrest there in 1968. When the situation became dire, they bravely emigrated to Canada in 1975, landing in Niagara Falls, Ontario. There they integrated quickly into the local community and into Canadian Society generally.

She raised her children and when they entered high school, returned to work as a Secretary in a nursing home and planned yearly holidays near and far for the family. In 1986, they moved again with Stephen to Cambridge, Ontario, where they lived for 11 years. There she performed secretarial work for the Developmental Disabilities Foundation.

In 1997, Rodger and Lynda moved finally to Langley, where Lynda settled into retirement, loving the chance to create her dream garden year- round, walk her golden retrievers and be close to her grandchildren.

Lynda will be remembered as a polite, soft-spoken English lady who loved her family with dedication and, to the end, didn’t “want to be a bother.”

The family deeply appreciates the home support team at Langley Home Health, who allowed her to remain comfortably at home until her last few days, and to Dr Mitchell Fagan for his support and caring.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation in her name to the BC-SPCA.

A celebration of Life will be held at the family home on Friday, January 26, 2024.