Aah, she beat the queen after all!!
Our love and hugs to the whole family.
Jean and Keith(Deeth) were the best neighbours in the world. We were so blessed to purchase our first home in Calgary next door to surrogate grandparents. Jean was a natural teacher, generous with her time and love for children. And what a cook!! Her chocolate chip cookies often came home one in each hand of big-eyed little boys. Jean kept track of all the grands and great grands. When we visited this spring she was up to date on all the news!! Jean discussed history and current events with equal awareness. She knew the names of all the staff; no wonder they loved her. Jean is part of our happiest memories of raising our boys. Love you!!

I’ve known your Mom since our boys were 2 yrs. old. I know how important she was to your family, and especially to you Diane over the years. My sincere condolences to all of you. She will be missed by many. I shall always remember her 90th Birthday Party.
Those we love
don’t go away,
they walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard,
but always near,
so loved, so missed,
so very dear.

My deepest sympathies Diane. She was a very bright, warm and caring lady. I enjoyed our chats and loved sharing a table with her at the Newcomers lunches! Hugs to you and the family.

I’m so glad that I knew Jean. She was a treasure. My condolences to you, Diane, and the rest of the family.
Hugs,
Colleen Schayes

Diane my condolences to you and your family. I have some good memories of your mom especially at book club. She was a lovely warm hearted soul.

Jean will be so missed by so many. She left an indelible memory with everyone she met. I will cherish and forever miss our adventure outings to wherever our fancy took us. We had this deal, ‘you do the driving and I’ll buy the lunch,’ and it took us on some pretty interesting jaunts. Right up to the very last days she was happy and interested to smell the roses and I thought she would live forever, but alas, she was needed elsewhere.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family Diane. You had a very special Mom there.

She was the brightest light of all, much love to you all

Jean was a superhero and just a lovely lady. She is missed.
Condolences to your family

I adored your mom! Such a pleasant, positive person.
Fond memories from evening Bridge and Dining Out.
Condolences to you, Diane and your family.

Jean was a lovely lady and a dear friend. I will miss her very much. We shared many happy hours together. My deepest condolences to you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss.

We missed Jean when she left the Condo in Lethbridge – such a kind, cheerful, generous friend, who was part of our church, book club.
, Red Hats, and game for new adventures – always with a smile. Love, sympathy, and condolence to the family.

I met Jean when I joined St Paul’s United Church here in Sidney in 2016 and we were part of the team tasked with setting out tea/coffee after the Sunday service. Jean often made a delicious strawberry/rhubarb dish which was enjoyed by all along with her tasty cheese biscuits. I later replaced her on the Worship Committee where she had served for several years preparing the bread and grape juice for Communion-this when she was already in her 90s was no small feat! Jean was so thoughtful, kind and who can forget her lovely smile. It was a privilege to be her friend. My sincere sympathy to the family.

My beautiful mother in law, Jean, a wonderful woman that I was blessed and privileged to have as my family. She touched so many lives and had unmatched kindness in her heart for those who were lucky to know her. Always there for everyone and always willing to help in any way she could. Thank you for everything you did for me and for being an amazing mum to Robert and Diane, granny to my Angelica, to Paul and Shannon and great grandmother to Chloe, Ruby, Jack and Wilfred. You will be forever in our hearts ❤️

What a bright light shone from Jean’s eyes! I miss her plucky bidding in bridge, and the twinkle as she played a tough hand. We were privileged to attend her 90th birthday lunch and I’m delighted that she had so many more years after that. Thanks for sharing your mum with the Newcomers women, Diane!

To the family of Mrs. Jean Spence, some of my memories – Cameron Pierce

In the eighties, my parents moved in next door to Keith and Jean’s big red house on Slocan Road. I was born soon after, and was like their adopted grandchild for the years we lived there.

Most of my memories of Jean are from a young age, seemingly surreal now, and somehow, being an adult doesn’t diminish the magic of the memories I have of her. As a toddler, the world is a wondrous place of colours, emotions, and curiosity. The sense of being loved and treasured were feelings I identified with Mrs Spence, and colour every memory and thought of her now.

There was something magical about her, my neighbour, instigated I’m sure in part by her introducing me to the classic Angela Lansbury movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The realisation that someone was inconceivably old when you were 3, and were still going strong nearly 40 years later, adds to that. As I grew older, my parents kept in touch, and we visited her at a mysterious white-carpeted home in a tower on the top of a hill.