February 5, 1924 - August 5, 2020
The world suddenly got less interesting ......
Born February 5, 1924 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, departed westbound from Creston, BC, on August 5, 2020 keeping a rendezvous with her beloved John.
After graduating from University of Manitoba in the early 50s from the Pharmacy Faculty, Jen, behind the wheel of her brand new car, embarked to California via Vancouver.
It was in Vancouver where fate intervened in the person of John De Young. The car, John and Jen all became friends and 2 quickly became 3 with a marriage in the seaside city.
The mid 50s found the couple pursuing employment opportunities in Nelson, BC. It's here in Nelson where the 3 became 5 with the addition of daughters Ann and Barbara.
In the late 50s the family again moved to further their opportunities in their profession to the Creston Valley. This is when Jen's fast paced no fussing around disposition became evident.
The 5 quickly became 7 with the addition of sons Paul and Christopher. With the biological family established and out of the way, she put her foot on the gas and gave us a glimpse of the future.
As a pharmacist she provided relief positions in the Creston and Kootenay - Columbia region, later in her career she was the Creston Valley Hospital pharmacist until her retirement in the mid-80s.While she was a consummate professional, other things were calling.
She was up to match with her mate as a serious outdoor enthusiast - golfing, tennis, sailing and swimming at Kootenay Lake, and a hard-core skier. She played the piano with wild abandon adding her signature to her training from Winnipeg's Royal Conservatory.
She shared John's love of classical music, working with the concert society to bring in and attend concerts. She and John were truly blessed with a tremendous and loving circle of friends who shared their many loves including Dinner Bridge, cards, food and drink and conversation.
She was an early crusader for the ecology movement and her love of the planet is evident today with the maturation of her many trees and gardens through her love of gardening.
As per the ecological movement, it was waste not want not. This Mantra both challenged her culinary skills and sometimes the constitutions of those on the receiving end of the kitchen. However, food was plentiful and joyful and served on and with an interesting array of dishes and utensils.
Also she believed in being productive in some way every day and lived her life doing just that.
Jen was a voracious reader and was not one to shy away from offering her opinion, advice or criticism to various levels of government through correspondence or whoever else might lend an ear.
She and John enjoyed travelling to Europe and the USA and visiting their far flung children.
Both John and Jen were active in the community, supporting the United Church where she sang in the choir for many years. She was a longtime Canadian Cancer Society canvasser and generously supported local and Canadian charities and associations.
In her later years she enjoyed watching public television, listening to CBC radio and seriously playing bridge.
She was predeceased by her husband John and grandson Jordan as well as her parents and siblings. She is survived by her daughters Ann (Dave) and Barbara (Todd) and sons Paul (Eveline) and Christopher (Kelly) and grandchildren John, Ryan, Lindsay, Rae, River and Zane.
The family would like to extend our heart-felt thanks to all the good people at Swan Valley Lodge for Jen's excellent care and support.
Celebration of life will be announced and held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers friends and family can make a memorial contribution to the BC Cancer Foundation, 399 Royal Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5L3
www.bccancerfoundation.com