ELEANOR WALLACE

February 22, 1926 — March 31, 2012

Wallace, Eleanor (nee Rambold) born in Luseland, Saskatchewan, February 22, 1926, passed peacefully with her children by her side, on March 31, 2012.  She was predeceased by her loving husband of 55 years, Jim, her brother Joseph, her brother Nickolas, and her son Robert.  She is survived by two sisters, Eva Volk of Edmonton, Alberta;  and Margaret Locke of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan;  sister-in-law Tina Rambold of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; her daughter Marilyn Avender of Kelowna; her son Jesse Wallace (Linda) of Lloydminster, Alberta; her son Vernon Wallace (Darlene) of Kelowna; ten grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Mom was raised on a wheat farm near Luseland, Saskatchewan.  At the age of 18 her parents signed the farm over to her brother and moved to the Okanagan and she soon followed.  Mom was waiting tables at a local Kelowna restaurant when she met the love of her life, Jim.  Mom and Dad were married in 1949 and promptly started a family.  Children kept Mom busy for a few years but when the children were old enough she went to work at SunRype.  Over the years she held many different jobs at the packing plant and gathered up many friends and acquaintances along the way.  Mom was always a happy, positive person and easy to please.  She loved adventurous outings with the family.  In the summers it would be camping and fishing in the high lakes within the Okanagan-Shuswap watershed as well as on Okanagan Lake.  In the winters it would be skating on Duck Lake, and later, exploring in the hills all around the Okanagan on snowmobiles.  Mom and Dad’s favorite areas for snowmobiling were the Greystokes, the Pennask-Hatheume area, and Hunter’s Range out of Enderby.  As retirement approached winters were not so appealing any longer and the desire to avoid the cold weather transformed Mom and Dad into ‘Snowbirds’ with a second home in Mesa, Arizona.  There was golfing, billiards and many ‘happy hours’ enjoyed with old friends and new friends under sunny winter skies in southern Arizona.  After fourteen years of Arizona winters health issues forced an end to the migration south but Mom continued enjoying the Okanagan climate, walking, cycling and feeding birds at the park with Dad.

Mom had a pioneering spirit, with a fun loving attitude.  She was always ready to socialize and happy to join in any fun activity at any time.  We will miss you Mom.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the palliative care ward at the Kelowna General Hospital and the staff at the Hospice House for their care and compassion for Mom’s final days.  In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC.

A celebration of Eleanor’s life will take place at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 7, 2012 in the chapel at The Salvation Army, 1480 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 5Y5  Telephone 250 860-2329.