HARRISON, Delores

December 18, 1936 — November 3, 2017

With great sadness, we announce the passing of wife and mother, Delores Harrison, on Friday November 3, 2017, with many of her immediate family present.

Delores was born in Alberta on December 18, 1936, and lived on the family farm five miles east of the city of Camrose. She was the eldest of three girls in the family.

She attended a one room rural school in her primary and elementary years, following which she attended high school at Camrose Lutheran College. After high school, Delores attend the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where she obtained her Alberta Teachers Certificate in 1956.

Delores’ first teaching experience was at a small rural school, in a Scandinavian community, north of Camrose, where she met other teachers, some of whom are still good friends of hers today. Following her experience in this school, she was transferred to an elementary school in Camrose where she taught grade five for several years.

Delores and her family were members of Camrose United Church, and it was there, while going to the young people’s group, that she met her husband to be, Al. Of course, Al asked her to take the program for him at one of the meetings as he was going to be absent, and for that he promised to take her to the drive-in theatre. Well, that started a very long and happy relationship.

Delores and Al were married on July 25, 1959, and enjoyed a British Columbia honeymoon, following which, they resided in Camrose for 10 years.

Delores was blessed with three sons: Tom born on November 24, 1960, Doug born on March 26, 1962 and Geoff born on July 11th, 1963. Unfortunately, Geoff died tragically at the age of 23 in 1986.

One of the many good memories that Delores has was growing up on the family farm and the many relatives and good friends together with the great family meals that her mom and aunts put together on special occasions.

Delores also has many fond and wonderful memories of her mother, who was a very kind, generous and caring person. During the time she was at home, and even when she had left home, Delores spent many hours with her mom and spoke to her often on the telephone after her own family had moved to Kelowna. She was also very close to and looked up to her father, who owned a successful farming operation as well as serving as an elected county councilor for many years.

Delores, her husband and the three boys moved to Kelowna on April 1st, 1969 when Al accepted a position with the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Delores did not teach in Kelowna as her teaching certificate was not recognized in British Columbia. She would have to take further university training and write several exams to obtain her BC certificate, which she did not wish to do. In any event, Delores assisted with bookkeeping services at the John Deere agency for several years and thoroughly enjoyed it.

For many years, Delores was an active member in the Ponderosa Spinners and Weavers guild, holding various executive positions during that time. Over the years, she sewed many beautiful garments and other items from the materials she wove. Delores also operated a yarn business but eventually had to close shop.

Delores loved Christmas, Easter and liked to dress up for Halloween and then visit the neighbours. She also loved to cook and invite all the children and grandchildren over for Sunday dinner. She could really cook.

Delores loved her grandchildren (5) and great grandchildren (5) and has many friends and family who visited her at The Village of Mill Creek.

Delores suffered a severe stroke on December 10, 2010 and as a result needed continuing 24-hour care.

Over the years Delores and Al together with their children, while they were still home, and afterward, enjoyed many camping trips in their recreational vehicle: trips which took them to the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alaska, Oregon coast, Arizona, California, Idaho, and across Canada to Newfoundland, along with many camping trips throughout the interior and coastal British Columbia. A recent trip that Delores and Al enjoyed just before she had her stroke, was when they went to North Carolina and to Washington DC, where they toured many of the Smithsonian museums.

Delores and Al were blessed in many ways and had a wonderful life together: her dream was to get better and recover enough to be able to go home full time and to enjoy some of her life as it was before she got sick.

Although Delores was not a Master Weaver, she did a lot of weaving over the years and this poem is most fitting.

Not till the loom is silent

And the shuttles cease to fly

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why

The dark threads are as needed

In the weaver’s skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver

In a pattern he has planned.

Delores is survived by her husband of 57 years, Al; sons Tom (Lorrie) and Doug (Lori); five grandchildren Nikki (Warren), Tricia, Billy, Owen and Cole; five great grandchildren Wilder, Jordan, Layla, Cooper and Cassidy; sisters Louise (Tom) and Myrna and sisters-in-law Betty, Mary and Edna.  Delores is predeceased by her son Geoffrey.

A celebration of Delores’ life will be held on Friday, November 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm at First United Church, 721 Bernard Ave Kelowna, BC.  Memorial donations may be given to the Heart and Stroke Foundation www.heartandstroke.ca. If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”

Service Details

The service for HARRISON, Delores is scheduled for Friday, November 17, 2017 at 1:00 pm . Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

First United Church

721 Bernard Ave Kelowna, BC

Phone:

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Special Requests:

None.

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