Jean Ann Woods

Jean was born in Birmingham, United Kingdom in 1936. Jean was one of 1.5 million children and adults evacuated to the English countryside at the beginning of World War 2.

She soon returned to the city to her family to endure the bombing of Birmingham and London by Hitler’s Luftwaffe during The Blitz of 1940 and 1941. One of her most vivid early memories was seeing Coventry on fire on the Eastern horizon in November of 1940. Jean also survived 24 hours in a bombed-out house in London before being rescued.

Jean emigrated to Canada in 1950 and settled with her family in Southern Ontario. She proudly became a Canadian citizen in 1977.

In 1954 Jean joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and graduated at the top of her class. She served for eighteen months on the Pine Tree Line in Northern Ontario and Quebec as a Fighter Control Operator. She met her husband Norman Peter Woods in the RCAF and they married on December 17, 1955. They were married for 52 Years. Norm predeceased Jean on August 1, 2008.

Jean was also predeceased by her parents Marjorie and Henry Fowler, brother Graham Fowler and sister Stephanie Robichaud.

Jean is survived by her sisters Marjorie Mallais and Patricia Gibbs. She is also survived by her three children Stephanie Woods (Jack Ballance), Susan Diemert (née Woods) (Vincent) and Christopher Woods (Angela). Jean had six Grandchildren: Travis, Tyler, Tucker, Thomas, Emma Rose, and Peter. She had six Great Grandchildren: Braeden, Larisey, Isabelle, Noah, Violet, and Ivy. She also had many nieces and nephews.

After leaving the RCAF in 1955 Jean worked in banking for many years, most notably the Royal Bank of Canada. She worked at the Chilliwack branch from 1979 until her retirement in the mid 1990’s. Jean was an avid Girl Guider for over 30 years. She was also a part of Soroptimists International throughout the 1980’s.

Jean was a passionate Barbershop singer for 30 years. She sang with the Sweet Adeline International Women’s Barbershop Chorus ‘Greenheart Chorus’ (Now Valley Echo Chorus) in Chilliwack BC. Jean and Greenheart Chorus won the Region 26, Division A Gold Medal for 1st place chorus in 2003. This win was one of her proudest life achievements.

After retirement Jean was an active member of TOPS Club International, The Trefoil Guild, the RCAF Association, The Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary and the CFB/CHS Chilliwack Military Museum.

Jean loved to travel and made numerous trips to the UK, Europe, The United States and Australia where she made many new friends.

Jean had a great passion for crafts and excelled as an avid knitter her entire life. She had a passionate love of life and learning and loved meeting new people. Her kindness and compassion were legendary, and she made a lasting impression on everyone she met.

She will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made in Jean’s name to the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Per Ardua Ad Astra

Through Adversity to the Stars - Motto of The Royal Canadian Air Force.

♪

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew —

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.