Velma Mae Schrader

Velma leaves to cherish her memory a large extended family: brother George Brown (Marianne), daughters: Ashly Davy (Jim), Tammy deBruijn, Susan Loewen (Jeffrey), sons: Terry deBruijn (Martine), Karl deBruijn (Lynn), Scott deBruijn (Susan), Mark deBruijn (Lois), Mark Schrader (Carmi), Floyd Duncan, as well as 20 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Velma was predeceased by her two husbands, Scotty deBruijn and Myrle Schrader, her parents Bus and Rosemary Brown, her sister Norma Jean Pratt, her daughter Scottina deBruijn, and her grandson Kristopher deBruijn.

Velma was born at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, BC. During her early life, her father worked for the CNR and during WW2 he joined the Canadian army and worked as a payroll clerk. As a junior employee with the railway he was stationed at many small communities and stations along the rail line. The living accommodations were often remote and very basic so Velma grew up playing among the forest and wilderness along the tracks. With the military, her dad was stationed at military bases throughout western Canada.

The nature of her father’s employment meant that the family had to move and relocate frequently. Home was never the same place for very long. Velma was fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time with her maternal Grandparents (Williams) at their small home on the corner of McKenzie avenue and Williams street in North Kamloops. At an early age, she became a veteran of rail travel as she was “shunted” between her parent’s home and the Kamloops CNR junction with caring conductors to watch over her. Velma often referred to herself as a “railway brat and an army brat”. Although she lived with her family in many different communities, she grew to consider Kamloops as her home base and would return later in her life to raise her many children.

Velma married Scotty deBruijn from Edmonton in 1952 and as fate would have it, he was in the RCAF. She was to continue her transient life and together they moved may times as Scotty was transferred to bases around the country. Several times he was posted to isolated radar bases where there were no accommodations for families. When this happened, Velma was expected to stay back and raise the family on her own. In 1963, Scotty received such a transfer. He was transferred from CFB Centralia, Ontario to the isolated CFB Puntzi Mountain in BC. Velma had had enough. She refused to be left on her own in Ontario while her husband worked in BC. After giving the military a piece of her mind and without their approval, she pulled up stakes and moved her family to Kamloops. There she had family and friends and her husband was close enough to visit more regularly. Fortunately, Scottie’s next posting was to CFB Kamloops so the family did not have to move again. There was some debate about whether the RCAF made this decision for sound economic reasons or whether they simply did not want to face the “wrath of Velma”, again. Sadly, Scottie passed away in 1974.

In 1976 Velma met the second love of her life, Myrle Schrader. They were married in 1979 their two families were blended. Myrle and Velma moved to the Shuswap and spent many happy years living on the “Little Lake” where they were able to spend many wonderful summers with their children and grandchildren. They spent many years wintering in Yuma Arizona where they enjoyed the sun and avoided the winter. Once “snow birding” became impractical for them, they moved to the Florentine retirement community and then to Gillis House in Merritt.

Velma lived a very full and rewarding life and she will live on in our hearts forever.

The family would like to thank the staff of Gillis House, Merritt, BC for the loving care that they provided Velma and the help they gave her family in keeping contact during these very difficult times. Regardless of how busy they were, they would make time to ready Velma for a window visit: to make sure her hair and nails were done and the jewelry matched!

Due to COVID safety measures, there will be no service at this time. If so inclined, a donation to a local charity of your choice in Velma’s memory would be appreciated.