Mrs. Maureen Lilian Brooks

Maureen Lilian Brooks (nee Wade) passed away peacefully on Thursday May 4, 2023 at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Palliative Care Unit. Maureen is survived by her loving husband, soul mate and best friend Peter William Brooks. They were a truly devoted couple and celebrated 59 years of marriage.

Maureen is survived by her children Steven (Tanya) Brooks, Andrew (Ronée) Brooks, Karen (Cory) Muir and Sally Brooks; as well as her children Jeffrey (Sandi) Hamilton, Brandon (Barrett) Hamilton, and Marina (Mac) Davis. Maureen will be missed by her grand-children Corey and Scott Brooks, Carter and Madison Brooks, Alex, Tyler and Makayla Muir, Lukas and Brooklyn Hamilton, Elora and Elyse Hamilton, Julia and Ethan Davis. Maureen will also be missed by her numerous nieces and nephews.

Maureen was born June 15, 1945 in Bristol, England. She is survived by her sister Shirley Iles of Bristol, England and her sister Eileen (Rob) Tilley of Nottingham, England. She was predeceased by her parents Roland George Henry Wade and Lilian Dorothy Wade (nee Corfe) and her brother Dennis Wade. Maureen was also predeceased by her son Darrel Hamilton.

Maureen and Peter immigrated to Canada in 1983. Maureen’s legacy is her passion for providing love and care to children. Maureen was a foster parent for close to 40 years, providing shelter, support and a loving environment to over 330 children. Maureen loved travelling; she and Peter particularly enjoyed cruising and all-inclusive vacations.

For many years Maureen and Peter owned a hobby farm in Cloverdale as well as in Sorrento. A few people will recall goats in the kitchen, milking the cows and haying the fields. Maureen enjoyed her fishpond in Nanaimo and had Peter go to great lengths to keep the waterfall working and to fence the pond so birds and racoons didn’t have access to her fish. A few people will also remember Maureen’s love for Rough Collie dogs, and her interest in breeding and selling some of those dogs.

Maureen loved to shop and buy groceries. She loved to cook and was the last to eat, ensuring that everyone in the house had plenty of food to eat. People will remember the special Sunday dinners, with two meats, roast potatoes and soft vegetables. When Maureen and Peter owned and operated a Bed and Breakfast in Weston-Super-Mare, England people would remember the large, cooked, English breakfasts. The other event that brought people together with Maureen’s cooking was Boxing Day, with assorted food served as "pickings", all day long. Maureen also ran a casual catering business to help friends and family with weddings and other celebrations.

Maureen built strong lasting relationships with a select group of people whom she was pleased to call friends. Maureen had a good listening ear, and always some opinion to help that person deal with the challenges that life had brought to them. Maureen often had similar opinions to share with family members, in respect to their life challenges. She had a good sense of humour and loved to connect with family and share news.

Maureen’s opinions, life experiences, caring and loving personality will be missed and we will always hold her in our hearts. Please feel free to share your memories of Maureen, your thoughts to family members or a kind word to those who are missing her.