Nancy Jean (Douglas) McMahon

Nancy Jean McMahon (Douglas) passed away on Monday March 11, 2024 in Nanaimo at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Born on October 20, 1929, Nancy was the oldest daughter of Hugh and Florence Douglas of Montreal. She and her younger sister Mary Heather grew up in St. Lambert, a suburb of Montreal and spent happy summers at “The Camp” by Lake Memphremagog in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. After graduating from high school, Nancy attended the MacDonald College campus of McGill University and attained a teaching certificate at the age of 18. For four years, Nancy taught in Baie-Comeau and Arundel Quebec, during which time she met her beloved, William James (Jim) McMahon whom she married in 1952. The couple had their first three children, Catharine, Richard, and Brian, while they lived in Lachute, Quebec, where Jim worked for Gatineau Power which was acquired by Hydro-Québec in 1963. Following a move to British Columbia in 1965 and a new start for Jim with BC Hydro, the family moved first for a brief period to Kamloops and then to Vernon, where their fourth child, John, was born and their children attended school. Nancy, Jim, and John moved to Terrace for three years but moved back to Vernon in 1978 where they spent many happy years.

Nancy was an imaginative and devoted parent, and her love of teaching was apparent in how she raised her children and supported their teachers. She excelled in storytelling and imagination games with her children. Many a happy hour was spent pretending a blanket was a flying carpet or a row of chairs an airplane in addition to family games of Bridge. She loved books and stories and passed on that love of reading to her children at an early age. She was never afraid to speak her mind, and was willing to stand up for her views particularly if it meant the well being of her children.

Nancy had a true love of music and actively supported music education for her children and through her and Jim’s support of the local concert and symphony societies. She also volunteered for the Vernon Queen Silver Star program, which was in earlier years started as a way to promote Silver Star Mountain and Vernon Winter Carnival but evolved into a program giving young women the chance to learn, develop, and enhance existing and new skills, gain volunteer hours, and obtain scholarships. Nancy was a passionate bridge player and would always take any opportunity to get together a group to play, whether it be large or small.

Once Jim retired, Nancy and Jim embarked on many years of travel adventure, visiting not only family, but sights all over the world, often with Vernon friends. Although she never felt comfortable with technology, she was a master organizer of information and would spend many hours planning their world travel. Up until her fall on February 14th, Nancy read books voraciously, and followed the Canadian and international curling, hockey, golf, and tennis on TV. Nancy and Jim attended the World Curling Championships twice as Jim was an avid curler.

Following the devastating loss of Jim in 2019, Nancy left the city of Vernon that she had loved so much, and moved to Nanaimo Seniors Village to be closer to her children. Nancy enjoyed good health and spirits until her final days in hospital at Nanaimo General. She will be sorely missed and lovingly remembered by her family.

Nancy is survived by her children Catharine, Richard, Brian and John, her grandchildren Nicola, Dyana, Paul, Laura, Allison, Caitlin, Sean, and Taysha, and great grandchildren Aiden, Scarlett, Violet, Kazuma, Mizuki, Oliver, and Abigail.

A memorial service in Nancy's honour will be held on July 18th, 2024 at Christ Church Gabriola - 2600 South Road, Gabriola, British Columbia. Further information available by emailing [email protected]

No flowers by request. If you would like to make a donation in Nancy's honour, please donate to the Canadian Red Cross.