Melinda Sue Dempster

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Melinda after a courageous journey with Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD). The disease robbed her of her retirement years and took her from us all too soon.

Melinda was born June 27,1959, 3rd of 5 children in Burnaby BC to her parents Mary Dempster (nee Willmon) and Michael Dempster.

She is survived by her wife Sheila, her daughter Amelia, her 4 siblings Judy (Scott), Michele, Corre and Sylvan (Elisa). Her three cherished grandchildren Alice, Astrid, and Arthur. Her Auntie Joan and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends near and far.

She spent much of her youth in Nanaimo and ended up in Mission, birthplace of her father. She attended the University of the Fraser Valley and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in History at SFU and then completed her Master of Education at the UBC.

Melinda began her teaching career in 1998 as a Secondary School Teacher in Mission, her career advanced as a Literacy Support Teacher, a Secondary Vice-Principle. Then she was transferred to Principal positions at Silverdale Elementary, Hatzic Elementary, and ESR School of Integrated Arts. Her love of nurturing young minds remained her passion and her steadfast goal throughout her career.

Melinda spent a great deal of her childhood vacations at her Grandparents cabin in Point Roberts, WA. There she got her taste for the salt sea breeze and later became an avid Kayaker; she spent as much time on the ocean as possible with many adventures up and down the inside passage and the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Throughout the years she served on many Community Program boards, and she was passionate about Literacy, so her time working with the Mission Literacy in Motion program was a natural choice for some of her volunteer work in the community.

There are many people who contributed to helping Melinda stay home for as long as possible. Our many thanks to Gladys and Sarah ! We would like to thank the caring staff at Bevan Lodge in Abbotsford for Melinda’s early care. As well as a big thank you to Tabor Home in Abbotsford for providing exceptional comfort care to Melinda for the last 8 months.

The family asks In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory of Melinda Dempster to support:

Mission Literacy in Motion at:

http://literacyinmission.org/donate-now/

Or

The UBC Hospital Alzheimer Clinic Fund with VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Donate at

vghfoundation.ca/donate

or by calling 604.875.4676 or by mailed cheque made out to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation (190-855 West 12th Ave, Vancouver, V5Z 1M9).

A Celebration of Melinda’s Life will be held late next spring or early summer TBA