Mrs. Nancy Willis Carey

Nancy was born on February 1, 1911 at Kennington in London to mother Annie Gellett. Annie was 18, unmarried and had to give up her baby girl to the Foundling Hospital, a London orphanage, where she was given the name Nancy Willis and baptized. She was then sent to live in the care of foster mother Eliza Spooner and husband and two foster brothers, Span and Arthur. At age 5 Nancy was taken back to the Foundling Hospital where she lived for the next ten years, with monthly visits from Mrs. Spooner. Living in the orphanage Nancy learned how to be strong when life was hard, to be self-reliant, and to enjoy life’s little luxuries when they came along. She had many close friends, some who were friends for life. She often said living with hardship so early in life is why she lived so long. In times of trouble she always maintained a stoic “stiff upper lip” true to her roots.

During her childhood Nancy learned her love for music, especially the classics and sang Handel’s Messiah with the choir every Christmas. She made some lifelong friendships at the Foundling Hospital. At 15 Nancy left the Hospital and went to work in a wealthy London home as a maid. She was always a hard worker and when she was older she was happy to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service as part of the war effort during the Second World War. In the A.T.S. she again enjoyed great camaraderie.

After the war Nancy used the money she had saved to move to Vancouver where she got a job working in the china department at Eatons. Her appreciation of fine things and her good sense of design began to blossom. She enjoyed life and had many friends, one of whom invited her to come along to a Hallowe’en Party at the Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Clubhouse. Here she met Bob, a handsome young kiwi fresh off the boat, and they were married July 27th, 1949. They rode to California for their honeymoon on Bob’s new Harley Davidson knucklehead (loaded to the hilt).

The newlyweds bought a forested piece of land in Lynn Valley, North Vancouver where they homesteaded, living in a converted workshop. That first winter was tough - the snow blew in under the door and there was ice in the pot on the woodstove in the mornings! Together they cleared the land, raised chickens and ducks and grew a big veggie garden. Jon was born in 1950 and then Chris three years later when Nancy was 42 years old. Her children meant everything to her and she often said that those early years before they started school were the very best years of her life.

Nancy became involved in the Light Opera Society in North Vancouver and enjoyed singing in performances and she also helped in making costumes and sets. She was a great homemaker and a very good cook, especially when it came to making pies, which thankfully is a talent that has been passed on to her youngest grandson, Colin. While in Lynn Valley Nancy took an Interior Decorating course and enjoyed helping Bob in outfitting the homes he was building .

In 1965 the family moved to New Zealand where Jon and Chris attended St. Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton. When afternoon tea was served for special occasions, Nancy liked to help with the catering. Nancy enjoyed her time in New Zealand – the slower pace of life, the beautiful countryside and the mild weather. After five years the family moved back to Canada where Bob and Nancy would remain for the rest of their lives. Yet they really did enjoy the best of both worlds as they spent the winter months in New Zealand for over twenty years, always spending some of the time at their beloved Orewa Beach. They also traveled extensively around the States, to Hawaii and Mexico as well as a few trips to England. This love for travel has certainly rubbed off on grandson Sam who is living and working in Chile and unfortunately could not be with us today. Nancy always remained British at heart, and had a love for all that was English, especially the Royal Family.

Bob and Nancy spent over thirty years semi-retired in White Rock. Their town-house was beautifully furnished, reflecting Nancy’s great eye for style as well as her love of poking around old antique shops, often to Bob’s dismay. She had a real flair for setting a table fit for royalty when we had family dinners. Nancy did a lot of her cross-stitch needlework in these years and some of it is displayed here today. She also knitted many baby items for the increasing family as Jon and Chris married and each had two sons, beginning with Mathew in 1977. Nancy was overjoyed to spend the first week of Mat’s life helping Rita and Jon with their newborn son.

Chris and Char’s oldest son Craig has this story to tell:

“I came into this world four weeks early and both of my grandmothers, Nancy and Sylvia, had to rush over to the Guildford Mall to purchase the necessary baby things. Apparently the grandmas were having so much fun that the stores were phoning ahead to one another to say “Watch out for the Grandmas – they are so excited!” Grandma Nancy insisted on the purchase of a blue bunny suit for the layette.” Nancy was so very proud of her grandsons and always wanted to keep up to date on what they were doing and tell her friends all about it. She began a family tradition of taking the grandchildren and their parents to the pantomime in White Rock every Christmas followed by smorgasbord dinner at the Copper Kettle Restaurant. She loved to see the boys going up for second and third helpings of food.

Nancy lost Bob, her partner of 56 years, in August, 2003. Not long after Bob’s death Nancy moved into The English Manor, a private nursing home run by Sue and Charlie Jeys. Nancy enjoyed her time there, often sitting in the garden in the sunshine or enjoying the company of Sue and Charlie’s grandchildren. She loved to watch children at play. In her old age Nancy was content that her two sons and her four grandsons were all doing well. Nancy was thrilled to welcome the first Carey girl in many generations to the family when Madelyn & her twin brother Dylan were born in August, 2007 to Mat and Helen. Nancy was pleased that Dylan looked so much like Jon had as a baby.

From humble beginnings Nancy went on to live a truly rich and rewarding life. Nancy will continue to live on in her children, grand-children and great-grand-children and we are so blessed to have had her with us for so many good years.

Rest in Peace Grandma. We love you.

Thomas Coram Foundation For Children

40 Brunswick Square

London, WC1N 1AZ

MRS. NANCY CAREY

You were born on 1st February 1911 at Lambeth Hospital, Renfrew Road, Lower Kennington Lane in South East London. Your mother called you Jean Dorothy Gellett.

Your mother was Annie Liela Mary Gellett who was 18 years old when you were born. It is not recorded if she had any brothers or sisters. Her father was a member of the Fire Brigade attached to the Gresham Road Fire Station in Brixton, South London. When your mother left school she went into service as a nurse maid to Mrs. Burning’s children. Mrs. Burning lived at 76 Sudburn Road, Brixton Hill. In April 1910 your mother left Mrs. Burning and went to work for Mrs. Cope of 14 St. Michael’s Road, Stockwell, South London. Your mother’s employer spoke well of your mother saying that she was a reliable worker.

Your mother named your father as Miguel Such who was a Spaniard working in London. She met him when she was working for Mrs. Burning early in 1910. She was looking after Mrs. Burning’s children and took them to Brockwell Park which was near their home and it was here she met your father. He was a teacher of languages and lodged at 3 Peckham Road, Camberwell in South London. He and your mother began walking out together and they became very fond of one another. Your mother was very shocked when she discovered her pregnancy and she asked your father for help. He said that he would marry her. However in June 1910, he left for his father’s home in Malaga, Spain and your mother saw him off from Shadwell Basin, London Docks. This was the last time your mother saw your father. At first it seemed he planned to keep in touch with your mother as he wrote to her from Spain. However, it seems he then left Spain and travelled to South America and although he sent your mother one letter from Argentina, she never heard from him again after this.

It must have been a worrying and difficult time for your mother who must have felt very let down by your father. After you were born your mother needed to make plans for your future. As you know, Society at that time could be harsh and often cruel to a girl who had a baby outside of marriage. Your mother was helped by her aunt Mrs. Morris who lived at 8b Loughborough Street in Kennington who cared for you. Your mother returned to work for Mrs. Cope for whom she had worked before you were born, and who lived close to her aunt. Your mother needed to work to earn her living and also to pay for your needs as she was giving her aunt five shillings each week towards your care. Your mother must have realised that, without your father’s support, her earnings would not be sufficient to pay for your needs as you grew up and she needed to make long term plans for your future. She therefore approached the Foundling Hospital to ask for help. Careful enquiries were made on behalf of the Governors to look into your mother’s situation. Your mother’s mother, your grandmother, was seen who confirmed that your mother had been walking out with Miguel Such and she had met him several times. After she learnt of your mother’s pregnancy she wrote to Miguel Such’s father in Malaga, Spain to ask him to persuade his son to accept his responsibility. His father, also Miguel Such, replied that he was not able to help as his son was now in Buenos Aires. He said that he would write to his son, but as he, Miguel Such Snr., had numerous family he could not help your mother financially.

Your mother’s employer Mrs. Cope of 14 St. Michael’s Road, Stockwell was also seen. She confirmed that your mother has worked for her for eleven months and that she was a good servant. She must have thought well of you mother as she was ready to employ her again after your birth and she hoped the Governors would be able to help your mother. Your mother would also have been seen by the Committee considering her case. She would have been reassured that the Governors would take care of your future education and welfare. Your mother would have brought you herself for admission on 14th March 1911.

On the day you were admitted to the Foundling Hospital’s care you were baptized and given your name of Nancy Willis. Children’s names were changed in order to protect mothers and children and enable them both to make a fresh start in life. You then went to live with your foster mother Eliza Spooner of Chertsey in Surrey.

At the age of five you would have had to leave your foster mother’s home and come into the Foundling Hospital school. This was an unsettling time for young children who knew only their foster mother’s home. However, the Governors placed great emphasis on education and training and this is why children did not remain in their foster homes. It must have been a distressing time to be taken into a large institution, one of many children who had to cope with a very different way of life. For many the Hospital became their family and children formed strong bonds with one another. There were occasional days in the year known as “Mothers Days” when foster mothers were able to visit their children in the Hospital but, because of the distance and expense, it was not always possible for foster mothers to maintain contact with the children they had cared for through their early years.

It must have been hard for your mother to part with you when you were received into the Foundling Hospital’s care. At that time the Governors did not allow mothers to have any further contact with their children and they were not encouraged to make enquiries about them. Sadly there was no further contact with your mother who must have felt that, in her circumstances, she was making the best arrangements for your future care. She must have hoped that her decision would enable you to have a better future than she herself could give you.

Lorna Zumpe (Mrs.)

Social Worker

26.9.91

Nancy Carey passed away on June 7, 2009.

There will be a Celebration of Nancy's Life at Henderson's Dignity Funeral Home In Langley on Saturday, 13 June, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.

(Phone 604-530-6488)

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Covenant House, 575 Drake Street, Vancouver, V6B 4K8 (604-638-4438) or to the Canadian Cancer Society.