Hodgins, Reta Alma
(nee: Blakely)
1917 ~ 2004
of Merville and Courtenay,
passed away on
October 23, 2004
Born in Vermillion, Alberta in 1917, Reta was the second of six daughters of Jack and Katie Blakely. After her family had moved to the Comox Valley, she attended school at Sandwick and Tsolum, and grew up on her parents’ dairy farm in Merville.
In 1937 she married Stanley Hodgins, and they lived for more than 50 years on their farm between Nurmi Road and the Island Highway in Merville, where they raised three children and participated in community activities.
At different times, Reta was active in the Tsolum School PTA, the Merville Community Association, and the Courtenay branch of the Canadian Daughters where she was a member of the drill team, and at different times was president of both the local and provincial chapters. For several years she wrote a column of Merville News for the Comox District Argus, and eventually edited the book of pioneer memories, Merville and its Early Settlers. For approximately 40 years she was a member of a dinner club, a group of 12 women friends who took turns hosting one elaborate, lengthy, and usually noisy dinner party per month. She enjoyed painting, sewing, reading, travel, baking, and visiting with family, and was an animated teller of stories.
Throughout her life one of her great talents was the ability to make people aware of her interest in them, her enthusiasm for their accomplishments, her willingness to help where help was needed, and her quickness to offer praise, encouragement, support, and love. In recent years, her smile alone could accomplish that.
Reta was pre-deceased by her devoted and beloved husband Stan in 1998, and is survived by their three children and spouses, Jack and Dianne, Brent and Sandi, and Joy and Bill Bell, as well as her five sisters, ten grandchildren and the grandchildren’s families.
The family wishes to express gratitude to the dedicated staff of Extended Care in St. Joseph’s Hospital, for their years of loving expert care.
A Memorial Service will be held at Piercy’s Funeral Home, Courtenay, on Monday, November 1, at 1:00 PM; reception to follow at the Native Sons’ Hall. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Oceanside Manor, Extended Care Unit, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Comox