April 11, 1942 - July 5, 2023
In loving memory ~
With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of the beloved matriarch of our family. Our cherished Wife, Mother, Baba, Sister, and Aunt, passed peacefully in her sleep on July 5th, 2023.
She was predeceased by her parents Henry and Laurene Hughes and her in-laws Victor and Frances Brkich.
She leaves behind her husband of 56 years Daniel, her son Darren, daughter Leanne (Jason), and her grandchildren Wesley, Carly (Sam), Casandra, and Grace. Her sister Marlene (Bill), her brother-in-law John (Pat), her sister-in-law Donna, and sister-in-law Vicky (Neil). As well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Bev was born on her family farm near Parkerview, Saskatchewan and moved to South Vancouver when she was 5 years old. She graduated from John Oliver Secondary School in 1960. After graduation, Bev began working for the Vancouver Police Department in their traffic division as an office clerk.
She met her beloved Daniel in 1966 and they married on April 15th, 1967. Together, they began a life in Richmond where they welcomed their first child, a son, Darren, in 1969 and a daughter, Leanne, in 1972.
In 1976 Bev and Dan moved their family to 91原创, building a beautiful home on an acre of land, where they spent the past 47 years raising their children and grandchildren. Bev's home was her favourite place to be and she took great pride in perfecting her gardens and tending to her numerous fruit trees, especially the harvesting of hundreds of figs every summer.
After her children began school, Bev returned to the workforce, taking a job at Pacific Plastics in 91原创 (now IPEX) and later moved to Gescan where she worked until she retired.
In her retirement, Bev spent hundreds of hours tending to her gardens and spoiling her grandchildren (grand fur-babies too) who were the lights of her life. When not in the garden, Bev enjoyed cooking and baking and hosting gatherings for her large family.
For nearly 20 years, alongside her mother-in-law Frances, Bev began researching the history of both her and her husband's sides of the family, discovering lost cousins, and tracing the family back generations. She put together dozens of books listing these connections and even found long lost cousins and relatives on the other side of the world.
Her favourite time of the year was Christmas, and all that knew her will remember her intricate Christmas decor that she spent days each year setting up. She doted over her Santa collection, Christmas village and Christmas train, adding to and improving upon her collection each year.
She truly was a big kid at heart and loved to find ways to celebrate the little things in life. Some of her favourite things included hosting 'backwards days' for her grandchildren and creating quirky traditions like observing the 'longest day of the year' (summer solstice) at Crescent Beach and placing bets on when the sun would set (even though she would Google it beforehand) followed by an ice cream cone. And touring Christmas Light displays on the shortest day of the year followed by hot chocolate and a donut at Timmy's. She looked forward to these traditions every year.
Beverly had a military-esque approach to organization, creating lists for her lists, and even going as far as saving, dating, printing, and filing nearly every photo she ever took or was sent to her. She documented every aspect of her and her family's lives and created priceless photo albums and books filled with memories to be cherished for years to come.
In recent years, when her son Darren purchased a travel trailer, she discovered a passion for camping. She loved organizing the trailer for the trips, creating packing checklists and perfecting how the trailer was set up, and finding new ways to optimize the setup after each trip. She always enjoyed spending time with her family, exploring the hundreds of beautiful places throughout our province, and always coming up with a new idea for where to travel to next.
Bev's 81 big, beautiful years of life were spent tirelessly caring and doting on her family and friends, as to her they always came first. Those that knew her will forever remember her selfless heart, gentle nature, and contagious laugh and smile.
Honey, Mom, Baba, we love you and will miss you until our last breath. Rest easy, we'll take it from here.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Bev's name.
At her request, there will be no service. A celebration of life will be held at a later date this summer.