Nov 23, 1918 - Nov 29, 2017
Mavis Robinson passed away peacefully on November 29, 2017. She had just celebrated her 99th birthday on Nov. 23rd at a party held in Kamloops Seniors Village with family, her care home friends, and the staff she loved and who loved her in return.
She is survived by her five children: son Peter Robinson (Sandra), and daughters Wendy Weseen, Janet Robinson (Terry Gillmore), Susan Dionne, and Elaine LaBar (David), 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Walter in 1991 and by her sons-in-law James Weseen, John Ottoson, Gerry Dionne, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth.
Mavis was born in Tollerton, Yorkshire, England, to Harold Windross Jackson and Edith Annie (Swindon). She was the youngest of three children, (brother Kenneth and sister Elaine). She married Walter Robinson in April 1940 at St Botolphe's Anglican Church in Knottingley, Yorkshire.
In 1955 they immigrated to Canada on the SS Captain Cook with 5 children and 13 pieces of luggage. They settled initially in Outlook Saskatchewan and for the next nine years they moved around Saskatchewan and Alberta, finally settling in Hope in 1964 where Mavis lived for 38 yrs. During that time she worked as a nurses' aide and a doctor's receptionist.
She was very active in the community, in the United Church, the local Writer's group, the Hope Ladies Choir, and the Women's Institute. She was a self-taught pianist, and a writer of poetry and short stories, one of which was published in the Legion Magazine.
After a short stay in Osoyoos, Mavis moved into Berwick on the Park Retirement Home in Kamloops in 2004 to be close to her daughter Elaine and then to Kamloops Seniors Village in 2009.
Mavis lived up to the meaning of her name, Songbird. She had a great zest for life, was a talented vocalist and musician, and gave her love whole heartedly to everyone she knew until her very last day. She has left her family a huge legacy: a capacity to love, an unfailing quick wit, and a passion for the arts. She always had a smile on her face and a song in her heart and she will be sadly missed.
A huge thank you to the staff at Kamloops Seniors Village, and to Dr. Peter Loland for their excellent care and the love given to our mother over her eight years there, and at her peaceful death.
In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when more of her family are able to attend.
Arrangements are entrusted to Schoening Funeral Services in Kamloops.