Veronica Mary Lenihan
June 15th 1919 to November 28th 2016
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our Mother, Grandmother, friend, nurse and midwife.
Veronica was born in South Shields, County Durham, England on June 15th 1919.
Mom finished school at an early age and left home to become a Registered Nurse and Midwife. This was at boarding school and away from her parents as Veronica’s father was an electrical engineer and traveled.
Mom was very fond of her Grand mother Mary Ann Hemy and was largely raised by her. Mom was nursing in London for part of the war effort. Mom applied to work outside of England and was offered Bermuda in 1947.
At about the same time, a handsome young Irishman was headed for Bermuda. Mom and Dad met at Christmas time 1949 and attended midnight mass together as a first date. They immigrated to Canada in 1950 calling London Ontario home for a short time before moving to Bralorne BC, where Dad’s Uncle Paddy lived.
Bralorne was home for about ten years. Mom said she felt Bralorne was the happiest point in her life.
The small town of Robson (Castlegar) was their next home. Mom worked as a nurse at the Castlegar hospital until retiring in1985. At retirement, Jim and Veronica built a new house at Christina Lake. In 1996, they chose to be closer to family and moved to Qualicum Beach.
This was home until health forced Dad into a care home. Both bravely accepted this to be their home and saw it as the right thing to do. Dad passed away in July of 2009. Mom continued to live in the Gardens until her passing.
Mom enjoyed good health and was sharp witted for all of her 97 years. She enjoyed regular outings and “escaping the four walls, as she called it. Recently Mom expressed that she was content with her life and wouldn’t change anything.
We would like to thank the Gardens at Qualicum for their
care and compassion over the years.
She loved and was loved.
A funeral mass will be held at the Catholic Church of the Ascension
in French Creek on Friday December 9th at 11:00 AM.