BISSLEY, Giselle Elizabeth Fernande (née Fraissinet) September 9, 2019 to November 25, 2019. Giselle was born in Marseille, France, and died in Victoria, BC, just a couple of months after celebrating her 100th birthday in style with family, friends, and the wonderful staff at Beckley Farm Lodge. She leaves behind her children Laurie (Larry), Marc (Judith), and Jackie; three grandchildren Brooke, Alexandra, and Waziya; and four great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind Martina, who contributed so much to her well-being these past five years; her beloved nieces in France: Bernadette, Françoise, Charlotte, Gentiane, and Florence and their families; and dear friends in Victoria and Calgary.
The last of her family’s generation, Giselle had an extraordinary life. For her heroic actions as head of the Red Cross in Menton in 1945, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star and the French Red Cross Medal of Honour. After becoming a Liaison Officer for the French Red Cross with the First Special Service Force, she subsequently became a Liaison Officer for the French Ministry of War with the Allied Armies of Occupation in Germany and Austria. The friendships she formed during the war and post-war led her to immigrate to Canada in 1950 (on a Finnish freighter landing in Port Churchill) where she married Paul Bissley in Victoria. In addition to raising three children, she taught French at the secondary school level and with the Institute of Adult Studies in Victoria. In 1973 she relocated to Calgary and taught French at Mount Royal College, where she was known as a passionate and dedicated instructor and created many unique and innovative French language programs. In recognition of her life-long contributions to promoting French education, language, and culture, she was awarded the Chevalier des Palms Académiques by the French government in 1980.
Giselle was a welcoming and generous host and loved to engage in conversation about history, philosophy and religion. She had a passion for art, music, literature, travel, and learning about other cultures, her love of which she imparted to her children. She was fiercely independent until her placement at Beckley Farm Lodge in 2013, and it was during these last few years that she developed a true sense of gratitude and a deep appreciation of nature. The family would like to thank the staff at Beckley Farm Lodge for their exceptional caring and love, and especially for their support during her last few days; we can’t thank you enough. No service upon request and, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.
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