Jane (Harker) Slater

It is with deep love and respect that we share the news of the passing of Jane Slater, our dear mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, godmother, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and friend. She followed Mark, her husband of 62 years, just a short season after his passing in July. She went peacefully with her three children by her side. She endured her declining health with the courage and quiet dignity that she has shown throughout her life.

She leaves behind her daughter Diana (Brian Pratt-Johnson); her son Ted (Christine, loving puppy Arrow); her daughter Jennifer (Brian); her granddaughters Lucy; Asha (Tim); Meg (Ben); Heather. Her granddaughters cherished their Grandma Jane and kept her life full of joy, love, laughter, music, puzzles, games, baking, and kayaking.

Jane was born in Vancouver. Her parents, Lucy and Douglas Harker, emigrated from England. She was the middle child with two dear sisters Judy and Gillian (both of whom predeceased her in 2011 and 2009 respectively).

From early in her life Jane was cared for by her grandmother Edith Clegg’s live-in, Annie Heskins. Annie became Jane’s nanny and remained close to her and saw her into adulthood, supporting Jane after her mother Lucy passed away when Jane was 19.

During the war years in her childhood she moved inland, to safer ground in Calgary, where she lived with her aunt Diana and cousin Joanna Wilkinson (“Joey”). She remained close to them and had a special bond with Diana. In her youth she spent many fun times in the company of her cousin Chris Harker (Catriona) and remained fond of him her whole life. As a girl she enjoyed camping, hiking, and skiing and she passed her love of adventure and travel on to her children. Some of her best memories were as a camp counselor and lifeguard at Camp Artaban. She and her lifelong friend Janice Pickerill worked summers as waitresses at the Eldorado Arms on Lake Okanagan. She enjoyed learning how to waterski. She remembered on one occasion getting a $50 tip. On another occasion she accidentally poured ice cubes into a diner’s evening dress. Before university she travelled to England and Europe and worked in London as a stenographer. During a vacation she recalled practicing her driving in Paris and turning down a one-way street.

She briefly attended nursing school in Victoria, and then attended UBC and studied psychology where she met Mark on a blind date. They married in 1961 and moved up the coast to Ocean Falls, where Mark worked as an engineer in the pulp mill. Diana and Ted were born there. Jennifer joined later in Sarnia, Ontario. Then in 1969 the young family returned to Vancouver where they lived on West 18th Avenue. Many good memories where made there. Jane kept family and home together through happy times and trials. She was a devoted Christian who lived her faith but did not impose it. She loved hymns, romantic movies, musicals, and caring for numerous pets.

She committed herself to the happiness of her children as well as to any child who came through her door. Vacations were at Bowen Island, Pender Island, the local beaches and ski hills, Stanley Park, around Janice’s swimming pool, and later Watch Lake.

On Bowen Island she established the weekly Watermelon Picnic and encouraged games and made sure every child had something to do. A young camper once proclaimed, “holidays here were boring until your Mom came over.” She dearly loved her nieces and nephews, Malcolm, Sarah, Roger, Georgia, Owen, and her goddaughter, Leslie. Scores of others. We were always in her heart, her kids. Brian, for example, remained “a growing boy” into his retirement years.

As a gracious host she always wanted to be sure we were happy and fed. It made her truly content to see her family enjoying a good meal. She filled a drawer at Pender Island with chocolate chip and cranberry cookies for her grandchildren. She made a delicious roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner, a recipe that Annie Heskins had taught her. Many a Christmas was spent at Waterlea playing charades and in-the-manner-of-the-word. She and Mark hosted the annual 18th Avenue Carolers. She drove kids and friends anywhere and everywhere, always making it fun. She helped Ted buy a dirt bike, whether or not he deserved it.

She became an ESL teacher. She hosted and helped many Vietnamese and Chinese refugees. She loved to travel. She travelled on her own to Israel and to China.

In their tween year she took each of her kids separately on a tour of England, the Isle of Wight, and Wales.

After the Vancouver years she found herself an empty nester, which was a difficult chapter of her life. Mark had received a promotion and the two packed up their beloved home on West 18th Ave and moved to Calgary. There they joined the Newcomers Group. Jane made many new friends and soon became the lead organizer of outings and events. She became a host at the ’88 Winter Olympics. Later after Mark’s retirement they went together on several adventures. The Caribbean. Hawaii. Disneyland. South Africa. She went on two safaris in Tanzania.

In 1998 they moved to Pender Island to live with her beloved stepmother, Betty Harker, whom Jane looked after for several years. She continued her tradition of creating fun. She joined the book club, the bridge club, the scrabble club; she volunteered at the Pender Nu-To-You; went on day trips with the Red Hat Ladies; taught Sunday School. She always kept an open door. She hosted many visits from family and friends, and friends of friends. She especially enjoyed Pender holidays with her teenage granddaughters, for two weeks each every summer. Jane discovered a passion for kayaking. She bought two kayaks; one extra so she could always introduce someone new to the sport she loved.

In 2016 Jane and Mark moved to Sidney, where they continued to enjoy visits with loved ones and friends new and old, and where they held out together during the pandemic and survived, even thrived, as a team.

We honour Jane’s loving and generous spirit, her readiness to assist others, and her willingness to donate her time to volunteering. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jane’s memory to your favourite charity or cause.

Jane’s family is grateful to the wonderful nursing and wellness teams at Sidney All Care and Amica Beachwood for their dedicated care.