April 10, 1933 – May 3, 2021
Bev passed away peacefully at the age of 88, in North Vancouver. She is lovingly remembered by husband Einar, daughter Susan Owens (Peter), sons Eric (Karen), Steven, Brent (Charmaine) and grandchildren Sean (Veronica), Rosemary Miller-Tait (Shane), Jordan (Aly), Nick (Raegan), Campbell, Colten, Cash, and great grandchildren Cole, Piper and Hazel, as well as a loving extended family and many cherished friends.
Born and raised in North Vancouver BC, Bev also spent a few years with her grandmother in Armstrong. She attended Queen Mary and Armstrong Elementary Schools, and graduated from North Van High. She married her high school sweetheart, Einar, in 1953. Bev worked as a clerk-typist at Burrard Drydock before moving to Chilliwack, where Susan and Eric were born. In 1961 they moved back to the North Shore, where Steve and Brent were born.
Bev loved children. She spent 17 years as a full-time mum, and welcomed the many kids in the neighborhood who came to play. She enjoyed skiing with her family, and actively supported her children’s activities. She was always willing to step up and help out. She canvassed annually for the March of Dimes, and enjoyed volunteering as a helper in the Carefree respite program for children with special needs, as a guide for school tours at the Vancouver Aquarium, and as a chaperone for the North Vancouver Youth Band.
When she returned to work, in 1972, she found the perfect job, in housing at Simon Fraser University. She enjoyed her work, and the people she worked with. She received awards twice during her 25 years at SFU, for her contribution to the university community. After retirement, Bev participated actively in the SFU Retirees’ Association and enjoyed planning activities for the group. She and Einar enjoyed cycling in the lower mainland, and she developed a passion for watching golf and going to the pitch and putt with friends, and for her weekly walks along the seawall with the Wednesday Walkers. Bev and Einar also spent time travelling, fulfilling lifelong dreams of seeing where their families had come from, Einar’s in Sweden and Bev’s in England and Ireland. They visited Greece and Turkey, the Vatican in Rome, Austria, Peru, Mexico, Hawaii, and Paris, walked on the Great Wall in China, and cruised down the Yangtze River. These trips were highlights for Bev, who always wanted to learn and meet other people.
In 2012, they decided it was time to downsize, and moved to a condo in Ambleside. Life had a gentler pace, and they enjoyed walking on the sea wall, or sitting on a bench to watch the ocean. Their last move was to Amica in Edgemont, where they were able to really relax and be cared for by the kind and friendly staff. Bev often said “I like where we live”. She enjoyed sitting outside on a bench, watching people come and go. In recent years, Bev had some health challenges, but she met them with dignity and grace, greeting each day with appreciation for people and the world around her. She was kind and welcoming to all she encountered, old friends, new friends, and people she didn’t know. She saw the good in everyone. She enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and said her happiness came from spending her life with the right partner. Bev will be remembered for her warmth, kindness and zest for life.
Many thanks to the staff at Lions Gate Hospital and the North Shore Hospice, who cared for Bev with such professionalism and kindness.
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