Jacquelyn “Jackie” Betty Bell passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on August 1, 2014, one month shy of 81 years old.
Jackie was born at home in Swan River, Manitoba on Sept 28, 1933. She was the third child of four girls born to Jack and Annie Jones. She met her husband, Keith Edward Francis Bell from Portage la Prairie at a barn dance. They eloped to Edmonton, Alberta where they were married on Dec 12, 1953, a marriage of 60 years. They started their family and resided there for 20 years before moving to Gold River, BC in 1974. Jackie’s main focus in life was to be the maker of a very happy home. Friends and family appreciated her ability to be forthright but never hurtful. With twinkly eyes and a heartwarming smile, she was very humble, unpretentious, and accepted everyone for who they were, making her very easy to like. She never knew it, but had the power to have an extraordinary affect on all those who knew her. At the root of everything she did was her strong Christian faith whether it was teaching Sunday school, helping on a church or health auxiliary, or just simply helping a neighbour, a friend, or sometimes a complete stranger. She was an avid reader, especially of the Bible and of church history that was written even before the Bible was printed. She attended many bible studies of various Christian denominations.
Jackie silently suffered for many years with lupus and lastly cancer, but whenever she was asked about her health, even in her last days, she would always be grateful for the things that were good as “it could be worse.”
She is survived by her husband Keith; her two children John “Richard” (Linda) and Bridgite (Richard “Rick” Messer). Jackie has three grand children: Christin (Luke Schaab), Justin Bell and Cassandra Messer. She is also survived by her two sisters Gwen and Mae and is predeceased by her third sister Anita.
Family and friends are invited to a viewing on Friday August 8, 2014 at 12PM at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1PM. Also, thank you to the Gold River Senior’s club who are arranging to have refreshments and snacks in the church basement after the Mass.
Special thanks, with the utmost admiration, for the assistance provided by all the staff at the Gold River Health Clinic and our local VIHA home care assistant, enabling Jackie to spend her last days in her own home.
Thank you to anyone considering a memorial donation. She would have greatly appreciated that. Jackie donated to many charities, but one of her favourites was Operation Smile: 1-888-677-6453 or operationsmile.ca
The way Jacquelyn lived her life is a wonderful example for us all.
Arrangements under the direction of Sutton's Campbell River Funeral Home, Campbell River, BC.
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