My mother Beryl Coupland was born in a Victoria hospital Dec 4,1924, as Beryl Grace Pitt. Three years later her brother Douglas was born. The family moved to New Westminster when mom was in her teens. Her dad worked in the prison in the wood working shop. Eventually they moved back to Victoria where mom graduated from High School in 1943.
In the 40’s if you wanted to be a school teacher you signed up at the Provincial Normal School. Mom completed the course in 1945. Her first job was a one room school house in Ucluelet. She had 11 students from grades 1 -9. The inspectors had a habit of showing up unannounced and one time mom and the class were just leaving for a picnic, so she told him it was a nature study. While in Uculet mom met my father Stan Willes. He was working for Canadian Fish as a butcher. They were married August 1947 in Victoria.
We came to Texada when I was 5 months old. Dad and his Uncle Dick opened a butcher shop in Van Anda. One day a week Mom would drive the pothole filled road to Blubber Bay in an old model T. She told me she was offered tea at every house so it took all day to do the deliveries.
In the early 50’s Dad opened his first grocery store, the Island Food Market. He had the present day Texada Market built and it opened May 1964. Sadly, my father passed away June 1974 at 48 years old, then Mom and my brother Rod continued to run the store. It was here that she first spotted Gord and succumbed to his British charm. Within a short while they were married and together set out with community spirit in mind to work with many organizations to better the Island. In between meetings they managed to travel to the Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Cuba and spent many winters in Arizona. During this time with Gord her son Rod died suddenly at 39 yrs old and 13 years later her youngest son Tony died in an accident. Despite these blows she soldiered on, continuing to do the things she loved.
Mom loved to dance and she and Gord were a sight to behold gliding across a dance floor.
She loved music and sang in Nickie Webbers choir.
She loved to socialize with her friends, whether it was going out to dinner, a BBQ, a potluck, or the weekly Srs. luncheon at their specially reserved table.
Mom was the embodiment of womanly strength, grace and dignity. She always spoke up for what she felt was right. She was the powerful matriarch of our family and it was so difficult to believe that one day she wouldn’t be here.
3yrs ago she fell and fractured her left hip and stubbornly proceeded to prove the naysayers wrong by getting back on her feet pretty quickly for an 84 year old. But, 2 months ago she fell again and fractured her right hip. Her dementia had advanced significantly since the last fall and this time, her light was failing. She said to me- “I can go any time now because there’s plenty of family up there to meet me”. I know they were waiting for her.
My mother Beryl Coupland was born in a Victoria hospital Dec 4,1924, as Beryl Grace Pitt. Three years later her brother Douglas was born. The family moved to New Westminster when mom was in her teens. Her dad worked in the prison in the wood working shop. Eventually they moved back to Victoria where mom graduated from High School in 1943.
In the 40’s if you wanted to be a school teacher you signed up at the Provincial Normal School. Mom completed the course in 1945. Her first job was a one room school house in Ucluelet. She had 11 students from grades 1 -9. The inspectors had a habit of showing up unannounced and one time mom and the class were just leaving for a picnic, so she told him it was a nature study. While in Uculet mom met my father Stan Willes. He was working for Canadian Fish as a butcher. They were married August 1947 in Victoria.
We came to Texada when I was 5 months old. Dad and his Uncle Dick opened a butcher shop in Van Anda. One day a week Mom would drive the pothole filled road to Blubber Bay in an old model T. She told me she was offered tea at every house so it took all day to do the deliveries.
In the early 50’s Dad opened his first grocery store, the Island Food Market. He had the present day Texada Market built and it opened May 1964. Sadly, my father passed away June 1974 at 48 years old, then Mom and my brother Rod continued to run the store. It was here that she first spotted Gord and succumbed to his British charm. Within a short while they were married and together set out with community spirit in mind to work with many organizations to better the Island. In between meetings they managed to travel to the Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Cuba and spent many winters in Arizona. During this time with Gord her son Rod died suddenly at 39 yrs old and 13 years later her youngest son Tony died in an accident. Despite these blows she soldiered on, continuing to do the things she loved.
Mom loved to dance and she and Gord were a sight to behold gliding across a dance floor.
She loved music and sang in Nickie Webbers choir.
She loved to socialize with her friends, whether it was going out to dinner, a BBQ, a potluck, or the weekly Srs. luncheon at their specially reserved table.
Mom was the embodiment of womanly strength, grace and dignity. She always spoke up for what she felt was right. She was the powerful matriarch of our family and it was so difficult to believe that one day she wouldn’t be here.
3yrs ago she fell and fractured her left hip and stubbornly proceeded to prove the naysayers wrong by getting back on her feet pretty quickly for an 84 year old. But, 2 months ago she fell again and fractured her right hip. Her dementia had advanced significantly since the last fall and this time, her light was failing. She said to me- “I can go any time now because there’s plenty of family up there to meet me”. I know they were waiting for her.
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