Samantha Elizabeth Parker

Sam was born in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Simis Elementary School and Madison Meadows Middle School in Phoenix. She graduated in 2003 from North High School where she received an International Baccalaureate diploma. She was active in basketball, softball, and volleyball. Samantha also enjoyed her experience as an exchange student in Ireland as part of the Sister Cities program. Many colourful stories came out of this trip; one of her favourites was when she learned to pour a true pint of Guinness, behind the bar at a local pub.

In the autumn of 2003 she enrolled as a freshman at The University of British Columbia where she met her future wife, Jen Aiers. They shared a love of the outdoors, good food and beer, and went on countless adventures over the years. Sam graduated from UBC in May of 2008 and went on to study culinary arts at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts on Granville Island, BC.

Sam had a passion for good food, and was an incredible cook. She loved hosting and making meals for friends. Anytime Sam was cooking, you knew it would be amazing. After spending a few years working in the food industry in Vancouver, Sam was ready to explore food from its true beginnings, through vegetable and livestock farming. Sam and Jen made a decision to move to East Sooke, to pursue this goal. Samantha found Ragley Farm, and quickly became a valued and loved member of both the farm and the East Sooke community. She eventually became the primary grower, harvester, and baker for Ragley, and she prepared for and oversaw the popular Saturday markets they hosted. She never did like those 4am start times on Saturday mornings, but made the most of it with loud music and the most dedicated work ethic imaginable. Baking bread in an outdoor, stone, wood-fired oven was a talent that she honed to perfection. She thought the world of Josie and Rob who own the heritage farm.

Sam and Jen shared a dream of starting their own farm one day. This dream became a reality through love, teamwork, earnest labour, and almost two years of property hunting. They finally found an idyllic 5 acre home in the Comox Valley and made the move, starting Rufous and Robin Farm in 2020. In true Sam fashion, she dove headfirst into the hard work of starting a farm from scratch, and she took bins-full of beautiful produce to the market within the first year. She always began her projects by setting the bar so very high… and somehow, she managed to meet her goals.

Sam’s creativity, sense of humour, quick wit, and generosity will be missed by everyone. She lived life with unfailing intensity and an adventurous spirit. If you were lucky enough to be a friend of Sam’s, you felt her fierce love and loyalty. You always knew you could count on her. She had a smile and a presence that could fill any room.

Samantha is survived by her wife, Jen; her mother, Deborah Parker and Deborah’s husband and Sam’s step dad, Ken Goldman; father, John Parker and his wife Jill; in-laws, Rodger and Jane Aiers, and sister-in-law, Kristen. Samantha will be missed by her uncles, Donald and Douglas Frost (Bev), Jim Parker (Lynette); her aunts Karen Dunn (Eddie) and Laura Gaba (John), and her loving grandmothers, Joyce Simpson and Faye Parker. She will be remembered fondly by several cousins and many, many friends.

She will always be in our hearts. We love you, Sam.

An outdoor memorial service will be held at a later date.

Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep

Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there, I did not die…