Delilah Claire Groves

On Wednesday, January 8, 2025, Delilah Claire Groves passed into glory after a long life, well lived. She was predeceased by her husband, John, sister Carole, and brothers Delmore and Bob. She is survived by her son Dale (Michele), daughter Dawne (Rae), son Jan (Kim) and son Joel (David), and daughters-in-law Bernadette and Debby. Also mourning her passing are her nine grandchildren (Mark, Laura, Angela, Ian, Amy, Zachary, Brittany, Emily and Alyssa) and fourteen great-grandchildren (Theo, Gavin, Lila, Amelia, Nash, Makenna, Hendrick, Drew, Nora, Rueben, Briar, Hudson, Felix and Hadley), sister Ivis, sisters-in-law Eileen and Sharon and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Delilah was born in Ebenezer, Saskatchewan in 1926, the eldest child of Joseph and Edith Neibrandt. She spent her childhood years on the family farm in Ebenezer, surrounded by many relatives and other German speaking families.

After completing high school in Yorkton, she attended Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing in Edmonton, graduating as an RN in 1948. Delilah worked in Innisfail, Calgary and Yorkton before she went on an adventure with two girlfriends to a job at Vancouver General Hospital. It is there where she met her husband, John. They were married in 1953. She continued working at VGH until the family moved to Kamloops in 1967. Her nursing career continued at Royal Inland Hospital, Tranquille Hospital and a community group home when Tranquille closed. Once her official nursing career ended, she had two residents of Tranquille as boarders for many years. She became an award-wining Tupperware lady whose parties were full of fun and lots of baking. Once her grandchildren came along, her job as gramma (and great gramma) was her greatest joy. She loved to do crafts with the grandchildren and was a prolific knitter and quilter. She was a noted community volunteer, spending many years as an usher for the Western Canada Theatre Company.

Delilah was a woman of great faith which was demonstrated by her hospitality and service to others. Her home was open to anyone who needed a bed for the for one night or for many months, often people she barely knew. She loved hosting dinners at her home and was the first person to make a meal for someone in need. She was a long-time member of Kamloops First Baptist Church and a founding member of Westsyde Fellowship Church in the 1980s. She served in many areas of church life from working the kitchen to being on the leadership team. Her service extended to Sunnybrae Bible Camp, where she was often camp nurse or head cook and later in life involved in the annual seniors’ camp.

After ten years living at Mayfair Seniors Residence, Delilah spent the last month of her life at Age Care Sun Rivers. The family would like to thank the staff of Interior Health homecare who assisted our Mom for several years, and the Age Care Sun Rivers Black Bear Community (3rd Floor) for their kindness, respect and compassion shown to Mom and our family during her short stay there. Special thanks to nurse Kelly who helped make Mom’s last hours on earth peaceful.

A celebration of life will be held for Delilah on March 8, 2025 at Westsyde Fellowship Church @ 1:30 pm. Donations in her honour may be made to Westsyde Fellowship Church, Sunnybrae Bible Camp, or the Western Canada Theatre Company.