Bruce, Gloria
Died suddenly, but peacefully, December 02, 2002 in Victoria. Gloria was born Valentine’s Day 1926 in Wakaw, Saskatchewan and traveled the full circle from Halifax where she was a Wren during the war, to Hollywood as a Canadian beauty queen, where she met her first husband Paul, had two children, Don and Lisa, then up to Duncan where she tried to trade her car for Jack’s truck, and ended up with both, had 3 more darling kids: Mare (Doug), John (Bea) and Robert (Sandy), then to Quadra Island, where we befriended Morris, and in 1964, all moved to Tofino, where the youngest, Michael (Lisa) was born.
Gloria had tons of energy. She was involved with JA’s, cubs, and scouts. She was a teacher, mentor, amazing mother and friend. She would time cinnamon buns to come out of the oven, so the aroma would float down the hill as we kids were walking home from school.
In 1968, Gloria bought the Schooner, where opening night was a potluck and everyone paid a dollar to eat their own food. In 1981, just for a change of pace, Gloria and Jack went hand logging up near Prince Rupert on the MR Cliff, where she had some of the best times of her life. She loved the water and old tug boats.
Gloria sold the restaurant 1987, continuing her adventures alone, traveling with her dog Katy throughout northern BC, back to the Cowichan Valley, then to Courtenay where she lived for the last 10 years. She never slowed down; she played tennis, skied, rowed, swam, wrote, sang, traveled abroad and loved spending time with her grandchildren: Whaylon, Gray, John, Joey, Jake, Suzanna, Katie, Jaimie, Alex and Christopher. She leaves behind her brother Don and sister, Margaret.
Please join us for a Celebration of Gloria’s wonderful life to be held Sunday, December 15th, 2002, from noon til 4:00 pm at her home in Courtenay. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the District of Tofino for a park bench at her tennis courts. Gloria was to travel to London, England on Sunday, but instead went to heaven.
Safe journeys, Nana.
We miss you.