Frances Young Gillespie

Frances Young Gillespie passed away peacefully April 13, 2020 at South Granville Park Lodge, in her 98th year. She was born in Brandon, Manitoba, the only child of James and Euphemia (Burnet) Gillespie. Although an only child, she was joined by her first cousins Margaret McDougall (nee Stuart) and Jean Wanlin (nee Stuart) when she was six years old, and always felt that she grew up with two wonderful sisters. After graduating from Business School, Frances moved to Toronto in 1948, in 1953 she and her mother both moved to Vancouver, with Frances joining Finning International in 1958. Frances enjoyed the benefits of the West Coast for the rest of her life.

Frances was pre-deceased by her father (1940) and her mother in 1964. Her ‘sisters’ preceded her, Margaret (2007) and Jean (2008). She is survived by the children of her two sisters, who always knew her as Aunt Fran. They are David (Syndi) McDougall, Helen (Grant Goodwin) McDougall, Neil (Carmella) McDougall, Margaret (Bruce Hyer) Wanlin, Catherine (David Cowie) Wanlin and Stuart Wanlin – all resident in Ontario – but fortunate to have had many wonderful visits from Aunt Fran who came to Ontario to visit her sisters and their families virtually every year.

Frances was known for her wonderful laughter, her dedication to Central Presbyterian Church and its summer camp, as well as to Brock House. She loved to read and play Scrabble, and was a very keen hiker, bowler, and golfer in her younger years. She also kept in close touch with her relatives in Scotland and England.

The Celebration of life will be Tuesday October 5th, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Boal Memorial Gardens in North Vancouver.

We want to give special thanks to her wonderful friends making weekly visits for many years, and to the staff at South Granville Park Lodge who provided Frances with excellent care for the last four years of her life.