Jacqueline Jean Knox 1920 – 2023

Late as usual, Jean Knox waited until she was well into her 103^rd year to pass away. She died Jan. 9, almost 30 years to the day after her dear husband Phil.

By then she had lost her mobility, most of her eyesight, much of her hearing, and, occasionally, her false teeth, but she never lost the ability to laugh, particularly at herself. And oh, but we’ll miss that laugh.

Born in Kamloops to Jack and Winnifred Home on Sept. 26, 1920, Jean was shaped by the Great Depression and the Second World War, which left her with an iron-willed resilience, a never-ending desire to help those in need and an abiding gratitude for what she had.

She was many things: Devoted mother, ragtime piano player, cartwheel turner, Brownie leader, telephone operator, lifelong learner, Happy Chorister, toonie-giver, inadvertent champion of the slow-food movement (really, her lousy time-management skills turned every meal into a four-course dinner). She made the best apple pie, potato salad and fried chicken in town, but turned many other dishes into something the dog would reject.

Jean never whined about anything, just forged ahead. Stubborn as a bad cold, the only thing she ever quit was cigarettes, which she did reluctantly because she truly enjoyed smoking.

Jean was anchored in her faith, albeit with one foot in the United church and the other in the Anglican. Her relationship with God was her foundation.

She had a deep love for and pride in her family, and also cherished her friends, including the staff members who embraced her after she moved into Ridgeview Lodge seven years ago. Her children will always be grateful to those who loved and cared for her there, and who treated them with such respect, too.

Jean is survived by her children Betty (Al) Jakel, Maggie (Eric Shishido) Knox, and Jack (Lucille) Knox, grandchildren Cathy (Brent) Thibault, Dan (Nathalie) Jakel, Jana (Dave) Laroche, Jeff (Heather) Jakel, Ryan Knox, Tara Shishido, Kelsey (Greg Dynia) Shishido and Jo Billows, great-grandchildren Danika and Marc Thibault, Christine and Karl Jakel, Alexandre and Mathieu Laroche, Sam and Henry Jakel, Presley Shishido-Loiselle and Scarlett Shishido-Dynia, sister Velma Stewart and sister-in-law Edna Home and their families, and Keith Richards.

Much to the chagrin of family members who were hoping to inherit great gobs of money, Jean took joy in donating to worthy causes. With that in mind, she would be happy if those considering sending flowers donated to a charity of their choice instead.

In keeping with her time-management skills, a celebration of Jean’s life will be held later this year.

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