We Remember
EVANS, Lena
—
1919 – 2022
Our dear Mother, Lena Evans, died peacefully on September 30, 2022, at the age of 103.
Recently a resident of The Village at Mill Creek, Lena had lived an active and engaged life during a period of significant change in Canada. When Lena was born to homesteading parents, WWI was just ending, and women were just gaining the right to vote in Canadian provinces. An outbreak of diphtheria brought her first family loss, that of a younger brother. During the 1930s, Lena was in the prairies – where the dust bowl was still making it difficult for the land to yield a decent living. She met her husband when he and his family moved their cattle to northern Saskatchewan, a location where feed was available. Soon after her first child was born, young men around her were going to the Second World War. During her childbearing years, Lena maintained a sizeable garden, was active in the United Church and became a Past Noble Grand in the Rebekah Lodge in Saskatchewan. By the time Lena turned 50, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon.
Lena retired to Kelowna, BC in 1980, once again establishing a large garden and joining community activities such as square dancing with the Westside Squares; playing bridge at the Water Street Seniors Center; walking with a senior’s group, as well as on the Greenway; and, until age 97, dancing on Saturday evenings at the Rutland Seniors Centre. During these years, Lena would return on vacation to Northern Manitoba where she enjoyed lake fishing, skidoos, and cross country skiing until age 96. The year Lena turned 100, was the year the world entered the Covid-19 pandemic, and Lena was still here. Indeed, she survived Covid after her 102nd birthday!
Through it all, Lena grew, learned, and lived. She married, raised her family, and was a fantastic homemaker who expressed her love through the many meals, pirogies, cinnamon buns, apple pies and many other goodies that she prepared and shared. Always, she did her best as many significant events changed the world, she lived in. Few will ever experience such vast changes in their lifetimes.
Lena has two surviving daughters, Joan and Margaret, three granddaughters, a grandson, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at The Village at Mill Creek for the wonderful care that they gave to Lena since she moved there in December 2018.
In keeping with Lena’s request, there will be no service.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
