January 4, 2024
In loving memory ~
1940 - 2024
It is with great sorrow that our family announces the sudden passing of our beloved Louella Jane, at 83 years of age, on Thursday, January 4th in Victoria, B.C., at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, with husband Ross at her side.
Faith and family were at the forefront of her life. Her gracious and kind manner, with enduring commitment to family was her greatest attribute. Louella was an exceptionally patient and adoring mother, and grandmother, who took great joy in hearing about her son's and daughter's hopes and plans, keeping track of their dreams for the future.
Born and raised in Nanaimo, Louella grew up on Watkins Street to loving parents, Joe and Helen, spending her teen years serving as a Job's Daughter, and working as waitress at the CPR Ferry Terminal Cafe and visiting the family's cabin at Horne Lake for summer vacations. Meeting the love of her life after a chance meeting in town, Louella and Ross married in 1958, and moved to a bungalow on Discovery Avenue. Before their third child was born, the family moved to a larger home in the Brechin neighbourhood on St. Andrew's Street in 1963. A long history of attendance to the Salvation Army church began at the downtown Nanaimo corps where Louella taught Sunday school. Early years of raising four children and beginning the family business with Ross at Mid Island Auto Collision in 1971, also meant taking the role of secretary treasurer for the shop and remained there in semi-retirement.
The 1970s were full of promise as the family business began to thrive. Louella often spoke of the memorable moments of family boating adventures up the coast to Alaska, or many trips to Hakai Pass, and River's Inlet to go fishing. More memories were made when Ross took the family on road trips back to Alberta to visit relatives and see her sister Joanne's family in Hope, B.C. Louella cherished family camp trips at Easter to Horne Lake in keeping with the tradition from her childhood, where her parents kept a cottage on the lakeshore. Louella enjoyed long island drives after church, especially to see her in-laws in Courtenay for Sunday dinner.
With the completion of Ross's custom built 60-foot sailboat the "Louella Jane" in 1987, Sullivan Bay in the Broughton Island archipelago became an annual destination for the Lemmon's. They spent their summers vacationing at their float house, making lifelong friends and enjoyed family visits to go fishing and tour the area. Louella would take up as many flowering plants as she could and create a beautiful series of potted gardens around the home that many admired.
More travel highlights for Louella were family trips to the Holy Land and Egypt with their church tour group in the early 80s. As well, she travelled with her dear mother-in-law Jesse, and sister-in-law Shirley, to the U.K., touring Scotland, England, and meeting relatives for the first time in person. Once Louella and Ross both retired, they spent many winter seasons travelling south in their motorhome to Apache Junction in southern Arizona visiting friends and relatives all long the way.
Louella kept an immaculate home, with a beautiful collection of antique china patterns on display. She had an appreciation for recording her family tree. There was never a family event where Louella was found without a camera. She also treasured her heirlooms passed down from her mother's side of the family. Gardening was her passion, as she kept beautiful flowering plants and loved to work outdoors in the backyard with the fountain landscape.
Louella will be sorely missed but her bright spirit will remain with us in our hearts. She is survived by her loving husband Ross, brother Leonard (Judy) of Prince George, sons Ralph (Valery), Larry (Bonnie), Richard (Lenore), and daughter Sharon (Don), granddaughters Kimberly (Byron), Kristin (Mark), Kylee (Adam), Angela, and grandsons Andy, (Euni), Shawn (Amber), Connor, Carson, nine great-grandchildren Ariel, Jasmine, Jude, Asher, Kadyn, Austin, Chase, Rosie, Benny, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews on the B.C. mainland. She is predeceased by her parents Helen and Joseph Timmins, as well as sister Joanne Triplett (Bill).
A service will be held Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., with a reception to follow at Salvation Army Church, 505 Eighth Street, Nanaimo.
Service Details
11:00 AM