Connie Dean
We sadly announce the peaceful passing
of Connie Dean, beloved mother,
grandmother and great-grandmother,
on June 28th, 2016 in Qualicum, BC.
Connie (nee Constance Hardy) was born in 1922 in Tolworth, Surrey, England. She had a wide variety of interests, including folk dancing, singing, swimming, camping and hiking, and was active in the Woodcraft Folk. When Connie was 10, she was awarded an honour for her singing solo at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
In 1944, she married Frank Dean (predeceased 1997). Connie and Frank had two children, Geoffrey and Robert, and in 1954, they all moved to Newcastle in Northern England. In 1957, they made the dramatic move to North Vancouver, and from there moved to to San Jose, California in 1961, and back to North Vancouver in 1971. In 1988, Connie and Frank moved to Nanoose Bay, and she lived in this area ever since.
Connie worked as a bookkeeper for a variety of firms; in the 1940s, she worked for the United Dairies, Shell Oil and Lloyds of London. After moving to BC, Connie worked for Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam until the 1980s. After her retirement, Connie and Frank enjoyed traveling, gardening, and taking trips in Frank’s boat. Some years after Frank’s passing, Connie spent many happy years living in The Gardens where she played ping pong, danced, edited the newsletter, and joined in numerous outings. Debbie and many of the other Gardens staff recall Connie as “independent, classy, with a great sense of humour. She was a lovely lady.” Connie was an officer of the Nanoose Garden Club and a member of the Lantzville Folk Dancing Club, with whom she danced at her 90th birthday party a few years ago.
Connie is survived by her two sons, Geoffrey (Colleen, Surrey, BC) and Robert (Sue, Parksville, BC) four grandchildren: Tara, Stephanie, Nigel, and Sierra, and two great-grandchildren, Avery and Kaia.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the businesses and services of Qualicum for their attention and care, not only to Connie, but to all of our seniors with whom they do business. Your extra attention and care is deeply appreciated. We extend particular thanks and gratitude to the staff of Eagle Park Care Facility for making Connie’s final years comfortable and peaceful.
A celebration of Connie’s life will be held at Brickyard Cove (Nanoose Bay, Parksville, BC) at 4:30 p.m., July 15, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation in Connie’s name be given to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, http://www.heartandstroke.bc.ca.