Denis Colin Bell

Denis loved bringing people together and creating community. The friendships that shaped his life included people from St. Michael’s Choir School, his time in religious life, early days in Alberta at the Yellowhead Youth Centre and, then, in social services management in the Government of Alberta, family ties in Montana, the immense community of care that he created for Jocelyn, his decades of work with Vancouver Island hospices, his beloved town of Comox, and many more. Genuinely curious and interested in people, Denis was a remarkable listener with a special way of making you feel heard.

Growing up in Toronto, Denis loved singing and sports, both of which were fostered at choir school. His beautiful tenor voice and his favourite lullabies are rich memories for all of his children (and even for Ben the dog). He was a talented athlete and a devoted fan of many sports. He enjoyed sharing memories with his grandchildren of playing shortstop and, occasionally, catcher, and his team even won the Metro Toronto Midget Baseball Championship one year. Fall was all about high school football and, of course, winter meant hockey. At the age of 17, his St. Michael’s Buzzers won the Metropolitan Toronto Ontario Junior B championship. His love of hockey persisted throughout his life. He was a youth hockey coach, and had Oilers season tickets for many years, often attending games with his son Michael.

The following year, in 1958, Denis was called up and played three games with the Junior A St. Michael’s Majors. Two months after the end of the season, Denis left for the United States where he spent five years in the Roman Catholic Passionist religious order.

After leaving religious life (where he earned a BA in theology), Denis completed a Master of Social Work from Carleton University in 1969, and, later on a sabbatical leave, a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University in 1987. Denis spent his professional life in the field of social work. At the age of thirty he moved his young family to Alberta to take on the role of inaugural director of Alberta’s Yellowhead Youth Centre. His career included many leadership roles in child welfare and social services, a time as the CEO of a regional board for persons with developmental disabilities, and work with Indigenous communities developing and implementing their own child protection frameworks. Among his many roles during retirement, Denis served on the BC forensic psychiatric review board, and was a palliative care counsellor, a grief counsellor, and a devoted hospice volunteer.

Denis was a voracious reader of newspapers, philosophy, mystery novels, and works about the environment. His hundreds of books are highlighted and underlined, and he shared many reading recommendations with family and friends. During his final hospital stay he was re-reading Thomas Berry’s The Great Work, planning a new course based on Berry’s teachings, and reflecting on Berry’s influential role in Denis’ own life as his spiritual director during his time as a member of the Passionist monastic community.

Denis also left detailed plans for the Blue Jays’ next season, and was very much enjoying the Canucks’ strong start this year. As Denis wrote in a recent journal entry, “be open to the magic.”

Denis loved his children, and was so proud of each of their accomplishments and could never quite believe that he played some small part in them being the kind, wonderful people they have become. Another source of joy for Denis was his grandchildren, and he loved learning about their passions and interests and the paths unfolding for them as young adults. An extensive extended family also shared in Denis’ loving presence. He will be missed by numerous nieces and nephews, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Know that you were loved and held a very special place in Denis’ heart. Denis’ love and commitment to his daughter Jocelyn and wife Kathie–and, of course, Ben the dog–were the centre of his life.

Denis leaves his wife Kathie; daughters Kate (Peter) and Mebbie (Allen), son Michael, and their mother Susan; grandchildren Duncan, Maddie, Nina, and Hugh; and, his nephew Stephen. He also leaves his brother Michael (Arlene) and their children Brendan, Adrian, and Margaret. He was predeceased by his daughter Jocelyn and her mother Deanna, his sisters Betty and Mary, and his brother Brian.

Denis’ life had more than its fair share of loss. He reflected deeply on grief, and tried to learn from it. He knew better than most that you cannot bypass grief, must make space for it, feel it deeply, and always find new ways to bring love into your life and allow it to flourish. We draw now on these lessons he has left for us.

In lieu of flowers, Denis’ family would appreciate donations to the Jocelyn Sarah Bell Memorial Bursary at North Island College or the Comox Valley Hospice Society.

A celebration of Denis' life will be held at a later date.