Mrs. Eileen Adele Robertson

October 15, 1930-August 27, 2019

Facing advancing chronic illness, Eileen chose to die after a wonderful 88 years. She was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the oldest of James and Lorette Crawley. As a girl, she was as comfortable prancing around the backyard in her Little Bo-Peep costume as she was accompanying her brothers on their ill-planned fishing and hunting trips. After training as a lab technician, she worked in the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton. In 1962, she married the love of her life, Alex Taylor, bringing their four children together and within a year, found herself raising a brood of five in the close-knit neighbourhood of Grandview Heights in Edmonton. Among the fun and chaos of Grandview, Eileen met her true allies and formed life-long friendships with many of the other brave and multi-talented women who found themselves somewhat tethered to the care of their own large and unruly families. After moving to West Vancouver in 1972, Eileen brought the fun of Grandview with her, organizing song and skit filled Xmas and birthday parties, ensuring many more years of laughter and great friendships. Besides keeping her children in line and entertained, Eileen enjoyed playing tennis, skiing, and travelling with Alex and friends. She became a volunteer docent at the VAG, joined the Churchill society, hosting a lunch fit for a Queen, or better yet Lady Soames ( Churchill’s daughter), and somewhere in-between went back to work as a lab tech at the BC Cancer Society.

Pursuing her love of great literature, Eileen completed her Bachelors Degree in English Lit in 1986 and her Masters in 1990 at the University of British Columbia. Graduating with honours and making a strong impression on the impenetrable English Department, she was hired as a sessional instructor for English 100 and her favourite Shakespeare courses. Her newly discovered passion for teaching and her ever-expanding family of beloved grandchildren helped carry her through the sudden and tragic death of Alex in 1991. The love and support of her great circle of friends eventually led her to Frank (Robbie) Robertson who she married and spent 22 happy and loving years with until his death in 2015. From lab tech, to mother of 5, to university professor, Eileen undertook and excelled in these ventures with little fuss and a lot of hard work and passion. To her friends she was unflinchingly kind, generous and supportive as well as unwaveringly blunt, funny and intelligent. For her five children ( their partners), her 12 grandchildren (and various spouses) and her 6 great grandchildren, we will grow old armed with her strength and beneficiaries of her wisdom, ready to embrace whatever life has in store because this is the legacy she has so lovingly left us.

No service or flowers by request. There will be a private family celebration of life.