It is with great sadness that the family of Joy Vera ‘Elsie’ Rinvold announces her passing on the evening of May 4, 2020. Elsie would have been 85 on her next birthday, June 26. She passed peacefully in her bed with family by her side at Heritage Square in Vernon.
Elsie joins her beloved husband Leonard Rinvold who passed away in September of 2013. She is also predeceased by her parents Cedric and Eleanor Hamilton, her sisters Clara and Dot, brothers Delbert and Jimmy and her precious great-granddaughter Aurora.
Elsie is survived by her 4 children Cheryl Tessier (Richard), Debbie Rinvold (Stephen), Kim Fellhauer (Tom), and Len Rinvold (Melissa), as well as her 11 grandchildren Kristen Williams (Van), Amy Amirault (Mike), Robert Albrecht (Tara), Julia Carlsen (Shawn), Jennifer Fellhauer(Stuart), Scott Fellhauer (Theresa), Mark Fellhauer (Dominique), Allison Fellhauer, Nathan Rinvold, Tony Rinvold and Amanda Johnson. Elsie was also blessed with 15 great-grandchildren.
Elsie is survived also by her beloved sisters and brothers , Grace, Billy, Pauline, Bobby, Diane, Deenie, and Gerry and her sisters-in-law Ida, Edna, June and Mildred as well as her many nieces and nephews.
To Elsie, her family and her faith in God was everything. Having lost her Mama at the age of 9 she knew how dear family is. She gave her family so much love and also shared her faith and her good heart with so many others.
Elsie was born in North Vancouver on June 26, 1935, the sixth of 12 children. While living with her sister Dot in Port Alberni, Elsie met Leonard and they were married on June 27, 1953. They welcomed two daughters Cheryl and Debbie before moving to Kelowna. In Kelowna they welcomed a third daughter Kim and after moving to Steveston they welcomed their son Len. Elsie and Leonard also lived in Golden and Tsawwassen before settling in Vernon, BC in 1974.
Elsie’s home in Vernon was often filled with her many grandchildren and then great-grandchildren who loved being with their “Nanny and Papa”. Each grand and great- grandchild remembers’ Nanny’s saying, “I love you more than Salt.”
Elsie was wise and loving and fun and she had a delightful sense of humour, a lightning wit and loved a great giggle. She was beautiful and had a classic style and loved a new outfit. She loved walking and baking special treats for her family and sharing childhood tales. Elsie was a green thumb gardener, her favourite flower was the Pansy and she loved the yellow Forsythia. You would often find Elsie shopping at the local Thrift stores as it was one of her favourite ways to unwind while looking for a hidden treasure. Elsie loved to read, she wished Pearl S. Buck had published more novels, she loved spiritual readings and if she gave you a copy of “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom then you are among those she loved. Elsie never passed up a chance to be helpful or to show her compassion and caring, she asked how you were and she listened to you. Elsie had strength of spirit that sustained her through hard times and in times of trouble she would always say and trust that “This too shall pass."
Elsie will be missed greatly by all of those she knew and loved. She is now rejoicing in Heaven united with those she loved who passed before her.
Thank you to all of those at Carrington Place and Heritage Square who cared for Elsie and showed her loving kindness. A special thank you to her companions who gave her such friendship, love and care. Elsie’s family is so grateful for you: Debbie; Anita; Leslie; Amber; Terri; Angela; Linda and Tara.
Elise has been laid to rest with Leonard at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Vernon. A celebration of Elsie’s life will be held at a later date when more of us can safely get together. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Salvation Army, one of the charities that Elsie supported: https://secure.salvationarmy.ca/registrant/DonationPage.aspx?eventid=228094&langpref=en-CA&Referrer=web
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pleasantvalleyfh.com for the Rinvold family.
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