Yvonne Teague

Yvonne and her sister Leonie and brother Fanie were all born in Cape Town South Africa. ‘My dad died before I could even remember him and my mom died when I was nine, so we were all orphans. My uncle, who was 60 at the time, took us in and raised us. He gave up all of his pension to help us even though he had his own family. He was wonderful,’ she began. ‘My mom had a terrible brain tumor that would put her into comas, and they used to call us kids home from school every time it happened. Sometimes I was naughty and would stay out after school playing with my friends and forget what the time was. When I came home my mom would have these headaches and get the long-handled duster down and beat us till my uncle told her to stop. I remember hop, hopping around the room trying to get away. We had a tough upbringing that was very underprivileged. The school had a program called The Feeding Scheme where we would get peanuts, oranges, raisins and milk every day. In addition, when in season, we could get a carrier bag full of grapes for a penny.

I worked very hard at school and finished Grade10 at 14 years of age and did the last two years in one year graduating at 15. I went straight to work at the Cape Argus newspaper office, and while working there for 6 years I saved my money to go to Europe. They gave me a wonderful sleeping bag, billies to cook in and a knife, fork & spoon set in one, as a departure gift. So, in 1954 my sister and I headed off to hitchhike around Europe. It was quite safe in those days and us being two young girls were a novelty for sure. We did all of the UK and Scandinavian countries. We hitchhiked on a fishing boat in Norway and slept on a woodpile in Finland where we were eaten alive by mosquitoes. We went through Belgium and France (where they were rude.) In Spain we had to wear dresses because women were not allowed to wear pants. In addition, while in Spain my sister had everything of hers stolen. In spite of this misfortune, we travelled right through Italy seeing the complete Blue Grotto. When in Germany, we discovered it was still in a big mess from the war. We did meet a nice couple in Hamburg however, who took us to a see Beethoven’s 5th concert. There were still G.I.’s everywhere. The Bavarian forests were great, and the Vienna coffeehouses were fun. We travelled for 7 months and we paid about 10 shillings a day for everything, which included our food, hostels, rides, ferries, trains the works. (10 shillings at the time amounted to about $2.50/day). Unfortunately, my diary and photos were all lost in a flood many years later.’

How mom met dad….

‘I met your dad on the cruise ship travelling from South Africa to the UK. Later in 1955 we were married in England. Your dad was recently out of the South African Air Force and he signed up with the RCAF to train NATO Air Force pilots in Canada. So, they sent us First Class on the cruise ship across the Atlantic as a honeymoon present! Both you and your brother were born on Air Force bases. After NATO he learned to fly helicopters and we moved to Australia to get away from all that cold! We soon ended up back in South Africa and were involved in all sorts of things. One of the best times was living on the Umfolozi Game Reserve in Zululand where your dad was a ranger. Part of his pay was a weekly supply of either an impala (antelope) or a warthog. They used to pull up in the truck and stick it up in a fork in a tree out front of the house, to keep it away from predators, until I was ready to work on it. Then me, a townie, had to get it down, skin and cut and mince it all up – ha! We had a kerosene fired deep freeze and lamps. The rainwater used to run off the roof into giant barrels for washing and watering. We had a vegetable garden but the eland (cow sized antelope) were always getting over the fence into it. You boys were at Methodist boarding schools and use to come home to a different place almost on every holiday!’

‘We then moved to the Arctic where your dad was flying choppers in the oil and gas industry and this is where your older brother graduated from high school. Finally, we ended up on Vancouver Island where you graduated high school! I finished my working career with 18 years in Sidney with the Mounties, (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). I ended up on crazy adventures with you like at the Mayan ruins in the rainforests of Central America and remember that one time I locked myself in that old bathroom in Bimini when you were away all-day scuba diving. I broke out with my nail file I did!’ She smiled as we both cracked up laughing.

Yvonne was an amazing seamstress at the highest level. She made clothes for us kids and herself throughout our lives, winning endless accolades and medals for her work. She volunteered around Sidney for 30 years. Ten years at each location. First the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary, followed by the Sidney Museum and then to the Beacon Community Services Thrift Shop.

Yvonne loved exercise and the outdoors and walked Goodlife Fitness 8k races and the TC10k races for years until she was 80, winning many medals for her age group along the way.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital, especially in the palliative care unit, for looking after mom.

And thank you to all those whose lives she touched over the decades who knew and loved Yvonne down to the team at Sidney Pharmacy who said, ‘she was a beautiful soul, and we loved taking care of her.’ She truly was a beautiful soul.

Predeceased by: Ex-husband Bill; sister Leonie; brother Fanie.

Survived by: Sons – John & Graeme.

Grand Children – Simon, Brittany, Patrick, Nichola, Caitlin.

Great Grand Children – James, Lucy.

There is no celebration of life as per mom’s request.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Loan Cupboard of Mount Newton Centre Society would be appreciated.