Josephine Helene Beaton

She is survived by her daughters Grace (David) Banks and Sarah (Jim) Badke, her grandchildren Nathan Banks, Ben Badke, Charis (Joshua) St Pierre, Danny (Abigail) Badke and two great-grandsons, Calvin and Thomas St Pierre. She was pre-deceased by her husband Eric George Beaton, her siblings Anna, Bud and Bethel, and granddaughter Angela.

Josephine Helene Jerry was born during a prairie blizzard February 9, 1920 on a farm near Hawarden, Saskatchewan. She grew up on a homestead in Crozier outside Fort Frances, Ontario. During the war years, she traveled to Toronto and worked in a war plant making Bren gun triggers. She graduated from Toronto Bible College (now Tyndale University), then went on to graduate in the first class of Practical Nurses in Canada. Josephine worked in Red Cross Outpost Hospitals in northern Ontario until she met her husband Eric. They were married in 1950 and lived in London, Ontario where Grace was born.

Ever ones for adventure, they moved to northern BC, living in Smithers, Terrace, and Kemano, where she gave birth to Sarah on the MV Nechako on route to Kitimat. When her husband died in 1966, she moved to Kitimat. Tired of shoveling snow, she settled in Chilliwack in 1972.

Throughout her life, the family saw God’s faithfulness, and we thank Him for blessing us with such a loving, generous, capable, optimistic mother. She taught us how to live, how to pray, how to persevere and even now, how to grieve with hope.

This past February, her family, friends and neighbours gathered to celebrate her 100-year adventure. She so enjoyed everyone. This is the celebration we will all remember her by, and no further memorial service is planned.

The family wishes to thank the Health Care workers who enabled Josephine to remain in her own home.

In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made in her memory to Ruth and Naomi’s Mission in downtown Chilliwack. See www.ranmission.ca and in the comments section mention it is in memory of Josephine Beaton. Including your address will allow them to issue a tax receipt.