Eileen M Robinson

It is with heavy hearts the family of Eileen Robinson said goodbye to GGR as she left us to join her beloved husband Jim, son Graham and granddaughter Sara-Lyn Joy. She leaves behind her children Kevin (Marilyn), Andy, Wendy (Duncan), grandchildren James (Kinga), Jennifer, Melissa (Ben), Chris (Michelle), and great grand children Abigail, Noa, Robin, Blossom, Jack and Hayley. She has family in Canada and the UK.

Born and raised in a suburb of London, UK Eileen made the bold choice of travelling alone to Canada in 1955. With her background in accounting (Selfridges department store) Eileen worked in the alumni office at Queens University in Kingston Ontario. She soon married Jim and settled down in Kelowna BC in 1968 with four kids (Kevin, Graham, Wendy and Andy).

Eileen was not your typical housewife, not even close. Her political interests and aspirations sparked a lifelong advocacy role for not only neighbourhood issues in Kelowna (Save the Eldorado and Laurel Packing House!), civic (Mayors Task Force on Athan’s Pool), but also Provincial and Federal as a NDP candidate and Executive. A stanch believer in the underdog, Eileen flew the feminist banner high. In Kelowna she was President of Arts Council, Pro-Choice Action Committee (founder), OK Mission Residents Association (founder). She was member of many task forces including Cultural Policy and boards as Chair of Court of Revision in School District #23 and chair of the Orchard City Three Links Care Society. She marched in the first Pride Parade in Kelowna. There are numerous other provincial boards that she served on however this was not all she did.

Eileen had an incredible artistic talent. She was a painter, potter but it was her love of fibre arts that soon found two looms in the living room. Of course, she became President of Ponderosa Spinners, Dyers and Weavers Assoc. She was busy behind and in front of the scenes with Theatre Kelowna Society and a beloved member of the Lit Wits Book Group. Eileen also tended her flower gardens with her green thumb and weed pulling prowess.

In her later years she embraced technology and dove in the deep end of Genealogy. Eileen was an active member in the Kelowna & District Genealogy Society and lead trips to Salt Lake City Utah and New Brunswick assisting others in their research. She has left us a legacy of knowing who we are and where we have come from. She also taught her grandchildren many choice swear words.

Eileen didn’t dance to the beat of a different drum; she was the drummer. We miss her dearly and know she is either protesting, organizing or rabble rousing somewhere.

Eileen’s family wishes to thank Dr Obedkoff and his medical staff in Kelowna, Dr Houghton and staff in Nanaimo and the incredible staff at Nanaimo Seniors Village Oceanic Cottage (CD1) for making her last few weeks comfortable. In lieu of flowers please feel free to donate to a local Women’s, Arts or Community Association. She would love that. A celebration of her incredible life to be held at a later date.