December 30, 1929 - August 31, 2015
Mum has left us but will never leave our hearts. It is with great sadness and love that we announce the peaceful passing of Jean Rose Novak at her home in Glacier View Lodge on August 31, 2015.Jean was born in Blackwater, United Kingdom on December 30, 1929, the 2nd daughter of Sidney and Ethel Copping, and is predeceased by her sister Edith.
As a young woman in post-war Britain, Jean met the love of her life John Novak and they were married in 1949 at Camberley, Surrey. The couple had six children including Andrew (Adrianne), Rosemary , Karen , Carl (Barbie), Linda (Cyril) and Dave (Janita), and have eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren that all miss grandmum dearly.
In 1957, Jean and John emigrated to Canada arriving in Montreal on the SS Carinthia. Soon after they departed by rail for Edmonton for the first of several military postings which also included Portage la Prairie Manitoba, Val-d’Or Quebec and Comox BC. The family took full advantage of each posting to enjoy what the various regions of Canada could offer, and we have many good memories of camping the provinces together. Mum would fearlessly take charge and have the old station wagon loaded up with six kids, a canvas wall tent, some provisions and away we would go! She was an absolutely amazing baker and cook, and would prepare delicious meals from scratch whether at home or at a campsite. The roast beef dinners she prepared at home were legendary, however she could also turn out a meal on a Coleman stove that would surprise and delight us all.
Jean enjoyed gardening, knitting, reading and trout fishing. On several ocassions she caught more fish than the rest of us combined. She loved animals, RV adventures throughout Canada and the States, the occasional trip to a casino (always a winner!), her children and spoiling her many grandchildren (who affectionately called her “Candy-Gramma” as she always had treats at hand).
Mum will be sorely missed by her loving husband John, all of the family and her two dogs Chip n Chester, but her memory will always live on in our hearts until we meet again.
Our family chain is broken now,
And nothing will be the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.
Our family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Dr Eva Hemmerich and to the wonderful staff at Glacier View Lodge who provided loving care to Mum in the later stage of her life.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, September 11th at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 218 Church Street, Comox, BC. and a reception will follow thereafter. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the S.P.C.A. in the name of Jean and her love of animals.