Russell, Mildred Evelyn

Vancouver Sun: 2011 December 29

Forever known as ""Torchy"" passed away December 21/2011, with her family and friends at her side at her home at The Waterford in Delta. Torchy was born on January 11/1925 and grew up on the Red River in Winnipeg. There she spent many happy days exploring the river with her speed skates in the winter, and her canoe in the lovely summer months. Torchy was married to B. Alan Russell on May 6th/1949 at the Canadian Memorial Church in Vancouver. From rooming houses, to the Little Mountain army barracks where Al finished his degrees, they were looking for just right place to settle. In 1955 just after daughter Gail and son Dean's birth they found their family home on West 37th Ave. The birth of Neil and Gary followed. With her family complete, Torchy found her passion in volunteering. Most recently, Torchy was the Past President of the ladies auxiliary of the War Amputations Society of Canada. Her first love was words, and she worked for many years as the voluntary librarian at Lord Byng School. She also spent many hours helping in the early days of the Planetarium. In her later years, Torchy was a dedicated worker at the Ladner Hospital Auxiliary and was a member of the Ladner United Church. Torchy and Al loved to spend their summers at Cultus Lake where they bought a cabin in 1960. Every summer Torchy was the inspiration of the swim club and was her children's biggest fan. She was an amazing person. In her spare time she was a skilled bridge player, who also loved bowling and lawn bowling. Her favorite station was the CBC because it kept her in touch with the world and more importantly with Canadian stories. Torchy is predeceased by her parents, Lenard and Jenny Bishop, her brother, Rick (Betty) Bishop and her daughter Gail Londry. She will be sorely missed by sons Dean (Sherry), Neil (Fran) and Gary (Fern) as well as her nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren. The family would like to offer our very grateful thanks to the nurses and staff of The Waterford who cared for her with love and compassion in her last years. Also special thanks to Dr. Ken Lai, for his thoughtful and professional attentions over Torchy's life. 

To celebrate her life, a gathering of family and friends will be held in the New Year. Torchy lived her life with grace and hope. She met her many challenges with great strength and faith. We loved her, and she leaves an empty spot in our hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:1 ""To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:""

Gilchrist, Margaret (nee Peircy)

Vancouver Sun: 2011 December 16

February 24, 1933 - December 13, 2011 

Margaret passed away peacefully from cancer at the North Shore Hospice. She is survived by her three sons, Angus (Julia), Ian (Anita) and Bruce (Vicki) and four grandchildren, Duncan, Malcolm, Oscar and Tashi. Her husband for forty-eight years, Aluin Gilchrist, passed away in November, 2010. Born in Sussex, England to Alfred and Winifred Piercy, she was raised by her mother in Storrington during World War II as her father was stationed at a secret radar facility. Margaret was a keen student and attended Southampton University on scholarship where she studied Romance languages, including an elective semester in Grenoble. Margaret taught girls' secondary school for a year but then decided to emigrate to Vancouver for brighter prospects. She crossed the Atlantic on RMS Queen Mary, landing at New York, then travelled by train to Montreal and on to Vancouver. In Vancouver, Margaret quickly forged numerous lasting friendships. She worked at the University of British Columbia Library before returning to teaching, taking a secondary school position in Coquitlam. She met Aluin through mutual friends and in the early days they enjoyed hiking and skiing together. Aluin and Margaret married in 1962 at St. Monica's Church, West Vancouver, and lived together from then on at Eagleridge Drive. Margaret was particularly active at St. Monica's Anglican Church in West Vancouver as a leading member of the altar guild for many years. She will be remembered for contributing her prized preserves to church sales. For her longstanding dedication, she was recently awarded the Order of the Diocese by the Bishop of New Westminster. In later years, after raising her three sons, Margaret worked as a substitute teacher, librarian and ESL instructor in the West Vancouver district. In 1986, she worked as a host at the Canada Pavilion at the World's Fair, once again utilizing her talent for languages. Margaret also volunteered weekly for over twenty years at the Crane Library, UBC, making audio recordings for the reading impaired. After a diagnosis of osteoporosis, she became an active participant in Better Bones classes. Margaret was especially fond of her friends made at the Gleneagles Community Center. Among other activities, including painting and drawing, Margaret was an enthusiastic member of her book club. She was also fond of cats, counting Abyssinians and ginger-tabbies as her favourites. The Gilchrist family offers many thanks to all who visited Margaret and who cared for her at Lions Gate Hospital and the North Shore Hospice. 

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, December 17th, 1:30 pm, at St. Monica's Church, 6404 Wellington Ave, West Vancouver, followed by a reception at the Gleneagles Golf Clubhouse, 6190 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Somerville, Lucy Hope

Vancouver Sun: 2011 December 11

January 28, 1921 - December 3, 2011 We are saddened to announce the passing of our much-loved Mom, Mom-in-law, Grandma and Great-grandma, Lucy Hope Somerville. Lucy was born in Chilliwack in 1921, the middle child of Alfred and Kate Tranmer. At twenty, during WW2, she travelled across the nation by train to marry her soldier, Ron Somerville, who was posted overseas three days later; they did not see each other for another four years. After the war they lived in Haney, Penticton, Nelson and Vancouver. Lucy was a popular and loved teacher/librarian at Inman School in Burnaby for many years. Ron passed away in 1977. Mom eventually retired with her sister to Chilliwack where she lived another 25 years and recently moved to Pacifica Residence in Surrey where she made wonderful new friends. Mom enjoyed great health for her ninety years. Up until the last couple of months she was still reading avidly, acing killer crosswords, and embroidering beautiful tablecloths. She was predeceased by her husband Ron, her brother, Lloyd Tranmer, her son-in-law, J. Alan Duncan and many beloved friends. She is survived by her sister, Margaret Tranmer of Surrey, BC, and her loving daughters, Kit Schindell (Dal), Rachel Duncan, and Tracey Tartaglia (Larry). Missing her tremendously are her four adult grandchildren who adored her: Julie Tartaglia (Russ Cann) of New Westminster, Mike Tartaglia (Shannon) of Kelowna, Marieke Schindell (Tyrell Bobowski) of Vancouver and Claire Schindell (Ryan Bertoli) of Williams Lake. Her namesake, little Lucie Bertoli, brought her much joy. 

Mom decided against a formal service, but we will have a private family event at a future date to honour this wonderful woman. Please sign the online guest book - we'd love to hear from you. www.kearneyfs.com Kearney's Cloverdale (604-574-2603)