Mrs. Eileen M Wiley

Eileen Mae Wiley (nee Skelton) - May 11, 1929 to June 16, 2011. With great sadness we announce the passing of Eileen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend in Penticton, British Columbia, age 82 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Eileen was comforted and embraced by Fred, her devoted husband of 57 years and their three loving daughters, identical twins Karol and Karen and Sandra. Resident in Penticton at the Good Samaritan Village by the Station, Cottage #3 for over 4 years and for the past 3 months in the Complex Care Unit, Eileen received sincere and compassionate care. Our profound thanks to the dedicated staff and volunteers for their humanity and support, making Eileen weclome and comfortable. Eileen will be forever greatly missed by Fred and daughters, Karol Elliott (Brian), Kelowna B.C., their children Janice and Spencer; Karen van der Hoop (Shaun), Richmond, B.C., their daughters, Heather and Julie and Sandra Harris (Farley), North Vancouver, B.C., and their son, Elias Brunt. Also left to mourn, sister Dorothy Hunter (Ed), Mayne Island, B.C., and their sons, Douglas and Gordon; brother-in-law, Ron Watson, North Vancouver and children Susan and David. Survived by her loving Uncle Doug and Aunt Terry Sauder, Vancouver and their family; cousins Doreen Macdonald, the Skelton, Sauder, Cadillac and Fry families. Eileen will be missed by all relatives and friends. Predeceased by sister, Joan Watson (Ron), February 1, 2010 and parents Clifford (1973) and Edna Skelton (1987). Born in Chilliwack, B.C., on Mother's Day 1929, Eileen lived in Chilliwack and completed Senior Matriculation in 1949. While in school, Eileen worked at her Dad's Men's Wear Store, on his filbert farms and for many summers at various fruit growers. In summer 1949 Eileen served as a nursing care aide in Coqualeetza Hospital in Sardis, B.C. She was accepted into St. Paul's Hospital School of Nursing in Vancouver, September 1949 from which she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1951 and where she was employed until the birth of the twins. In 1975 Eileen re-entered nursing at Shaughnessy Hospital, retiring in 1990. Fred entered her life at a YMCA dance in November 1951 and they marring on August 14, 1954. They lived in Vancouver until June 9, 1994, moved to Oliver and built a lovely home on Tuc-el-Nuit Lake. A member of the Burnaby Laphounds Club since 1962, she did rock hunting, lapidary, silver-smithing and faceting. Eileen enjoyed fisihing, camping and travel and was accomplished in orcid growing, bonsai, quilting, gardening, sewing, making teddy bears, knitting, crocheting, rug hooking, canning fruits, pickles, a special family relish and baking - especially Grandma's apple pie. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, July 18, 2011, 11 o'clock at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 97, 36217 97th Street Oliver, B.C. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Graham Funeral Home, 34616 - 99th Street Oliver, B.C. (250) 498-3833.