BATEMAN, Judith Lenore Perry

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Judith Lenore Perry Bateman was born in Ynysddu, Wales on May 11, 1937. She spoke of evacuating from the city of Cardiff during World War II, and of living at Rose Cottage. While the cottage was in the middle of beautiful green rolling Welsh hills, they had to carry their water a mile or two, and living was hard work. She remembered receiving a cup of milk at school every day.

She moved with her family to Canada at age 10, on a rough sea voyage to Halifax and a long train ride to Calgary. She was the oldest of 7 children. She was 2 years old when the triplets were born (Christine, Keith and Leigh). When the triplets were 4 years old, the twins were born (Carol and Meryl). The youngest sister, Patti, was born a few months after arriving in Canada.

The family lived in Calgary for a few years then moved to Edmonton. In 1956, age 19, she traveled to Cardston, Alberta, with church and family friends, Glen and Kay Bateman. While in Cardston, she met their son, Larry, who invited her to a dance in Waterton. She loved to dance.

After returning from travels with her Auntie Peg to Britain and Spain, she visited Larry again, this time in beautiful Banff where he was working.

They dated for a year before Larry served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They married soon after his return in August of 1959. She had grown up being called Lenore, but Larry called her Lennie and the name stuck. Later, her children and grandchildren called her Gram.

She raised a wonderful family of seven children in Edmonton from 1960 to 1981 when they moved to the Kelowna area.

She learned great domestic skills and was a hard worker. She enjoyed feeding people and was a great cook, well known for her roast beef and gravy, crepes, cheesini, and taco salad. Her artistic talents were expressed in singing and directing music, flower arranging, water colour painting, classy décor and clothing style. She loved music and had many opportunities to sing in choirs and direct church choirs.

Lennie had a great testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and his gospel. She has served in numerous church callings in Primary, Young Women, Relief Society, Stake and Ward Music and with LDS social services. She prayed daily and devoted herself to gospel study. She was a righteous influence to her posterity. She was a generous, kind and loving person who befriended many.

Travel was something she really enjoyed and she was blessed to travel many places: England, Wales, Spain, France, Italy, China, Thailand, Hawaii, USA, Canada, Mediterranean, Israel, and Egypt. In her later years, she took groups of her grandchildren on cruises or to Disneyworld.

She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother! She loved her family and has left a rich legacy of love. It was a tragedy when Larry passed away in September 2002. Gram was courageous in serving a 2 year mission at the LDS Church Family History Library in Salt Lake City in 2008 to 2010. While there, breast cancer was diagnosed for the third time in her life. She proceeded with surgery and treatment, although doctors did find her cancer had metastasized to her ribs. She completed her mission and returned home. She had several years of good health but the cancer spread to her spine. She responded to treatment until February, 2016 when the doctors said that nothing more could be done.

She lived an amazing life of love and service before she passed away peacefully May 28, 2016 in Kelowna surrounded by family. She is survived by her children: Danny (Donna), Suzi (Kelly), Tami (Gordon), Barb (Miles), Ben (Dena), Cari (Dennis) and Joey (Chris), 25 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Lennie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Larry; her parents Burt and Muriel Perry; her sister Meryl; her brother Leigh; and her granddaughter Becky.

Viewing will be held Friday, June 3 at 12:00 noon, and funeral service at 1:00 pm, both at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 696 Glenmore Road, Kelowna, BC.

The family extends thanks to the health care professionals who cared for her, as well as her many family and friends for all their love and support. 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.”