Linda Reynolds

Honouring the life of our beloved mother, Linda Reynolds, April 26th 1944 - July 23rd 2024.

Linda was born and raised in Boston, Lincolnshire, England to parents Len and Pearl Morley, the eldest of three siblings. She had a happy childhood and was a playful talkative child making many friends in her home town, attributes that she would later carry into adult life.

At the age of 21, she met our father, Richard 'Dick' Reynolds, at a local dance in Boston and they started dating. He was away studying at university at the time so for the first couple years their relationship was long distance. After he graduated, when Linda was 24, they tied the knot at the Centenary Chapel in Boston Lincolnshire.

After Dick's graduation they both moved away from home to the south of England, to Exeter, Devon. I (Lisa) was born a year later in 1969. A new work opportunity eventually led Linda and Dick to move again to Colchester Essex where James was born in 1971. The family remained there for several more years.

In the mid-1970s an exciting new job opportunity presented itself to work abroad in Trinidad, and our little family of 4 traipsed off to the Caribbean.

Life was very different for Linda who suddenly found herself living in the tropics with husband and two small children. However she embraced the new lifestyle and embarked on 5 of the happiest years of her life. There were weekend beach barbecues 'champagne breakfasts' at Maracas Beach. Outdoor 'fêtes' with soca and calypso music, dancing the night away. 'Jumping up' at Carnival in colorful costume. Trips to Tobago with good friends they made from the expat community, and ultimately a week long cruise on a yacht - with skipper - around the smaller Caribbean islands.

Linda, by then in her mid thirties, was having the time of her life in Trinidad creating many close friendships that lasted her entire lifetime.

This paved the way in 1981 for another and more permanent move to Vancouver, Canada. This was to become her new home, which set the direction for the rest of her life.

Linda and family started off living in a townhouse in North Van for several years but in 1986 had a beautiful brand new house built on Underwood Ave where she would live for the next 38 years of her life. Besides raising two kids and running a household she got clerical work at Paramed, a health care agency, which eventually led her to working out in the field as a care-aide with elderly clients.

Mum also loved hosting parties and get-togethers and was known by all her friends as an excellent cook. She loved spending time in the outdoors and was an avid gardener with a green thumb. As a mother, she was always very involved in both our lives, showing up for soccer games, dance classes, school plays and recitals. She was always loving, supportive and kind and home life with her at the helm was calm and peaceful.

In the summers there were camping trips, once to the Rocky Mountains in our VW 'Westy' van and once in the same van down through California and into Mexico. Eventually there were yearly trips back to England to visit their parents, her sister Sylv and Alan and other relatives. They did trips to the other Boston in Massachusetts to visit dad's brother and wife, Chris and Sue. Linda missed them all dearly living so far away in Canada.

In 2014 Linda's big dream and greatest joy came true. Her first grandchild, Rinan, was born to James and Susi.

Unfortunately 2 years later in 2016 dad died and this was to become a very dark chapter in Mum's life.

By 2018 James and Susi gave birth to a second child, their daughter, Carice. Mum once again was overjoyed at the arrival of a granddaughter.

Eventually mum's dearest friends introduced her to their neighbour in Abbotsford and Jerry entered her life. With him she found a new lease on life and rediscovered her joy. Her sparkle came back and once again she embraced life.

They started doing travels in his big RV to the Okanagan, Vancouver Island and several times down to Arizona for the winter. They did a wonderful trip to Hawaii to visit me, and a couple cruises and smaller getaways. They found great happiness together right up until the very end, when suddenly cancer took our beautiful mother's life at age 80.

She lived life fully right up until the very end. She had kind words and time for everyone, she was a joy to be around and always the life of the party.

We love you so much Mum. You will always remain in our hearts until we meet again on the other side.

James and I have nothing but gratitude to you for being the most awesome mum! Thank you for everything ❤️