August 27, 2023
In Loving Memory ~
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Daphne Trelawny in a hiking accident in the Beaufort Range on August 27.
In her all too brief 73 years, she touched many people with her boundless energy and enthusiasm, her great sense of humour, her genuine interest in others and her generosity of spirit.
Born in Cobble Hill on the family farm, she was the eldest of five children of John and Ruth Trelawny. After brief stints on Race Rocks and in Metchosin, she was raised at Deep Cove in North Saanich and spent most of her school years at Norfolk House where she made many lifelong friends.
Daphne travelled in Europe and in South America, then worked in early childhood education at the University of Victoria and at Malaspina College. She was adored by both children and parents. Daphne had an amazing ability for connecting with people, young and old and from diverse backgrounds. She followed with interest the lives of those kids that she had cared for as infants and, with her remarkable memory and talent for recognition, would often meet up and reconnect decades later.
In the early 80's, Daphne relocated from Victoria to the central Island where she lived at Yellow Point before she met her soul mate Dennis Nicholson and moved to Qualicum Beach. They were married in 1994 at the creekside house that they had built together in the forest neighbouring Qualicum Woods, where Daphne following in the footsteps of her father John created an extensive woodland garden.
Daph loved to run (including marathons), kayak, camp, hike, and in later years, walk. Most of all Daph loved to chat, engage with others and find out all about them. Her laugh and sense of humour were infectious.
In the early 90's she left her provincial government office job and embarked on her true passion, companion gardening. Daphne would work alongside her clients who received the benefit of not only an energetic gardener but, even better, a wonderful companion. It was a perfect fusion of her love of gardening and her unparalleled ability to connect with people.
For over twenty-five years, she forged special relationships with her clients who became her friends whom she continued to selflessly support long after houses and gardens had been sold. Daphne was a beautiful, energetic, and caring person. First to rise and last to retire, she would host dinner parties for dozens at the drop of a hat. A cup of tea with Daph was always an enriching experience.
She and Denno were always active, visiting friends and family on an annual basis in the Healdsburg area in California, in the U.K. and wintering for over 15 years in the Loreto region of the Baja.
Daphne is survived by her loving husband and life soulmate Dennis, her daughter Stacey (Quentin) and two grandchildren Brooke and Tylan in Lloydminster, Alberta, her sister Jill (Greg) in Parksville, brothers Richard (Nelly) in the United Kingdom, Peter (Karen) in Ottawa and Patrick (Brigitte) in Victoria.
She is also survived by her 20 nephews and nieces and many great nieces and nephews spread across Canada, the U.K., and California.
She stayed in constant contact with them all, never forgetting a birthday, graduation, or other significant occasion. Daphne made them all feel special and provided a pillar of selfless support, a pole star, to each as they navigated life's highway.
A Celebration of Life will be held on September 23, 2023, at 2.00 p.m. at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre. The family would like to thank both the Comox and the Arrowsmith Search and Rescue teams for their dedicated assistance.
In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to those organizations through links accessible at www.yatesmemorial.ca
Service Details
2:00 PM
