JOLLEY, Yvonne

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Yvonne passed away very peacefully with her family by her side on September 13, 2016. Yvonne (Peron) Jolley was born in the village of Grande Ligne, Québec on October 30, 1930.  Yvonne was the only child of Sylem and Bertha Peron (Paradis).  She grew up in this small farming community surrounded by close relatives whose ancestors came to Canada more than three hundred years ago.  Yvonne attended grade school in the local one room school house where she worked at her first job lighting the wood stove before the other kids arrived.  She attended high school at Pointe aux Trembles Boarding School near Montréal.  She completed her Registered Nurse designation at Montréal General Hospital (MGH).  While training at MGH she met her husband Ray, who was completing his RCAF flight officer training at CFB Bagotville, Quebec.  They were married on January 18, 1952 just before Ray was posted to RAF North Luffenham near Oakham England.  Yvonne and Ray lived in England for 2 years followed by postings to Toronto ON, Parent QC, Comox BC, Cape Cod Massachusetts, Toronto (again!), Ottawa ON, Tacoma WA, and Penhold AB.  Yvonne took care of the house and family as well as organizing many Air Force Base social events.  Like all fighter pilot’s wives, there was always the worry of airplane accidents.

Yvonne grew up with many farm animals and actively took part in all the farming chores. She loved to look after a series of family cats whose names were all Fred.

Yvonne and Ray retired to Kelowna in 1977, where they lived for 35 years in a house beside Mission Creek. They kept a large vegetable garden with fruit trees in the backyard.  Yvonne canned and preserved a lot of the harvest and always shared generously with friends and family. There was always an extra place at the table.

Throughout Yvonne’s life she was known as someone who was very generous and kind. Besides raising 7 children while moving homes regularly, she still had abundant energy to help others.  There are countless examples of her volunteering, but we will highlight a few – supporting Vietnam War Veterans at a VA hospital in the early 70’s, fund raising at the Kelowna SPCA for 25 years, as well as volunteering with seniors at the Village at Mill Creek (formerly Stillwaters) in Kelowna for 35 years.

Yvonne is predeceased by her husband Ray, and is survived by her 7 children – Will (Lucy), Nettie (John), Bernice (Brian) Brown, Michele, Lucy (Ron) Lait, Ken (Laura) and Graham (Lisa).

Yvonne cherished her 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Their memories are of her warm hugs, her fabulous cooking, and her special attention to each of them.

We will be forever grateful to Chatsworth Retirement Residence and for the loving care of the nurses and care aides at Village at Mill Creek, where she lived for the past 2 years.

A celebration of Yvonne’s life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Kelowna SPCA would be greatly appreciated.

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