Lois Marie Johnston

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lois Marie Johnston (née MacLaggan) on June 10, 2023, at the Kelowna General Hospital. Wife to Terrence (Terry) Johnston for 61 years, Mum to Laurel, Michael, Mary Katherine Scheibli (Michael) and Mitchell (Julia), Nan to Alexander Berdnikoff (Jordan), Charlotte and Samantha Johnston, Kate and Henry Scheibli, William Scheibli, and Phillip, Christina and Lucas Johnston, and sister to Rae MacLaggan. She was predeceased by her parents, Kenneth and Kathleen MacLaggan, and brother, Terry MacLaggan, of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Lois was born on Easter Sunday, April 7,1940 in Carberry, Manitoba. During her early years, she, her mother and brother lived with her grandparents, Georgina and James Howie, in Carberry, while her father served in the Royal Canadian Navy on HMCS Cornwallis during WWII. She had a deep and abiding love for her Nanny who had a profound influence on her life. It is from Nanny that Lois learned to create and build a warm and loving family environment. She learned to garden, cook, crochet, knit, needlepoint, and sew (all her own clothing and many a school friend’s!). Numerous family members and friends consider themselves so very fortunate to own one of Lois’ prized crocheted blankets. Each blanket was stitched with love and a special touch. As she stitched, Lois always thought about the person for whom she was creating her special gift. Lois also always held a special interest in her Maritime and United Empire Loyalist roots as her father was originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Her paternal grandfather, Kenneth MacLaggan Sr., was renowned for constructing a number of the now historic covered bridges throughout the Maritimes.

Lois attended City Park Collegiate in Saskatoon where she immersed herself in theatre, set design, cheerleading, gymnastics, track and field. She attended the University of Saskatchewan where she studied Education. She was a passionate Grade One Teacher who loved her work in both Prince Albert and Saskatoon.

Lois married the love of her life, Terry Johnston in 1961. In 1966, they moved to Vancouver to raise their four children. Lois and Terry, together, were deeply supportive of their children’s activities. They created a loving home where many friends, of all ages, were welcomed with open arms… along with several Great Danes and feline friends. Lois was a fabulous designer and applied her artistic talents to the renovation and interior design of several of their homes in Vancouver. With boundless energy, enthusiasm, curiosity and wit, she enjoyed family and community life including her ladies’ bridge club. She had great pleasure from regular attendance at the Vancouver Symphony. Weekends included family skiing at Whistler and summers at Spanish Banks. For ten years, Lois volunteered on the Parent Advisory Council at Maple Grove Elementary School. Lois loved her role at Terry’s side proudly supporting his career in planning and real estate development including the management and expansion at the Fraser Port.

Lois was one of the original founding volunteers of the Vancouver Crisis Centre providing telephone counseling support. She was Chair of the Volunteers for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in Vancouver Centre. In 1992, she received the Macdonald-Cartier Award from Prime Minister Mulroney for her generous volunteer contributions.

In 1998, Lois, Terry, Laurel and Alexander moved to Calgary. There she dedicated herself to supporting Alexander and visiting grandchildren. Lois was also engaged in creating an award-winning garden at their Calgary home. She very much enjoyed the friendships of their neighbours and Tennis Alberta families.

Since moving to Kelowna in 2015, Lois experienced a few health issues. She continued with her passion for gardening. She was so very comforted by the “roots and wings” of her children and grandchildren’s lives, careers and achievements across the UK, Austria, Spain, Australia, USA and Canada as well as enduring intergenerational friendships.

Her family extends special thanks to Dr. Ghadirian, the hospitalists, the entire nursing staff, and to her "darling" Tsighereda” on 6 West at the Kelowna General Hospital. In the hospital with the staff, she was happy to share the nursing achievements of her three MacLaggan aunts – Lois, Frederica, and especially, Katherine, one of the founders of the Canadian Nurses’ Foundation and founder of Canada’s first university degree nursing programs at the University of New Brunswick and Moncton University.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation directed to Cardiac Care by following the link: https://kghfoundation.crowdchange.co/14594/donate

The funeral service will be held on Friday, June 16 at 2:00pm at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, 4619 Lakeshore Road, Kelowna followed by burial in the adjacent church cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com for the Johnston family.

Arrangements entrusted with First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, BC 250-762-2299