Doris Belle Olsen
October 31, 1932 - December 23, 2014
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend. Belle was a beautiful, kind and giving person with a great sense of humour and a passionate love of life. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her, especially by her 7 children: Robert (Lynn), Janet (Randy),
Corrine (Bill), Bernie (Bev), Blanche (Ron), Raymond
(Alice), David (Cindy)
Her 19 Grandchildren: Shannon, Lorne, Natasha (Neil),
Jordon (Sabrina), Jarret, Jeffery, Claire (Michael), Stephanie (Dave), Gregory, Matthew (Natasha), Sarah (Masaki), Jynelle (Andy), Jason (Olivia), Joshua, Joshua, Nicklaus, Sabrina,
Larissa (Nigel), Christine.
And her 13 Great Grandchildren: Audrey, Brixton,
Jackson, Sophia, Fiona. Harrison, Weston, Jenova, Ezra, Selina,
Celeste, Champ, Katherine.
Belle was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia in 1932 and is also survived by her 7 brothers and sisters: Eddy, Ivy, Clyde, Anne, Cliff, and Hazel. While growing up In Nova Scotia she met and married Bernard Byerley and together they had 7 children before moving to California in 1964. Belle found her niche working in a “hip” restaurant in the hub of the clothing district in Los Angeles during the 60s and 70s where she met many of the stars of old Hollywood. She rented a house built and owned by the producer of “Laurel and Hardy”- and Charlton Heston nicknamed her “Doe eyes” for her beautiful brown eyes – always insisting that she be his waitress while he was in the restaurant.
She also met and married Don Olsen in California and in 1987 the two would move to Peachland, B.C., where they would live for 13 years before Don’s passing in 2001. It was then that Belle came to live with her son Bernie and his wife in the Comox Valley. Here she discovered all kinds of new things about herself - including a love for golf, computers and her iPhone! She also joined the D’Esterre seniors in Comox where she met many dear friends.
Belle divided her time between California and the Comox Valley for 7 years before making her final decision to move back to California in 2009. All of the family journeyed to visit her over the last few months after her sudden diagnosis with cancer. After a short struggle, Belle passed away peacefully December 23rd surrounded by the loving children that could be there, while the rest were there in spirit.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring.