Rolande Andrews

Rolande Andrews passed away peacefully at Evergreen Baptist Care Facility in White Rock, BC, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Bruce A. Andrews (1937-2007) and her brother, Kenneth St. Clair Meek (1936-2013), as well as her beloved cousin, Margaret (Saunders) Boyes (1936-2023). She is deeply mourned by her daughter Miléna and grandchildren Lauren and Christopher Santoro, as well as friends and relations locally, across Canada, and in the UK.

Rolande was a classically trained ballerina who studied at the Royal Academy of Dance in England, before returning to Canada to found her own ballet school, the Academy of Dance. She later became a choreographer for the Calgary Ballet Company and guest instructor for Margot McDermott for the Young Canadian dancers. She married Bruce in 1960, and they lived in Ontario before moving to British Columbia, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

Rolande was a giver, always generous and kind, a consummate hostess with a mischievous sense of fun, and a great love of baking, gardening, and the arts. Her caregiving and support for her husband and daughter was legendary – she nurtured both of them through their PhDs, including typing Bruce’s on a manual machine. She adored her grandchildren, spoiling them with “Meme treats” and her abundant love. She will be remembered for her resiliency and faith, and for the lasting impact her love and care has had on so many.

"And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." - Kahlil Gibran