Gail Norene Hamonic

1943-2021

Nini passed away as the sun rose on Sunday November 14, 2021 at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, BC at the age of 78. Mom was born in Port Arthur, Ont on May 25, 1943 to Olga (nee Tainio) and Gerald Willan. Growing up in Nipigon, Snake Falls and High River, mom moved around with her sisters Dale and Pegi before settling in Sointula, BC. at the age of twelve. She grew into adolescence on the small Finnish fishing village filled with a close-knit circle of friends and fond memories of nights camped on the beach, driving one mile of paved road and dances at the hall. Moving to Sudbury to care for her aunt and also living with another aunt in Burnaby, Nini attained her hairdressing licence and settled back in Sointula where she eventually met her husband Gerard “Jerry” Hamonic, also being confirmed in the Catholic faith. Married in Victoria June 9, 1962 our parents welcomed Wynn, Shawn and then Remi as they settled into Sooke, BC. Ron Lesieur joined the family as a foster son. After the unexpected, early passing of her beloved mother (Olga), Nini travelled with her family to visit Ron and his new wife Penny in Kamloops in the summer of 1974. Arriving into the 104 F degree heat, Mom stated aloud “Well, the sun shines somewhere in B.C.” She loved Kamloops and eventually moved her father to join our family home settling in Barnhartvale in March 1975. Tawd was then born and her family was complete. Anyone that knew Mom would agree that everyone was family, and all were welcome at her table. An avid gardener, our pantry was filled with preserved goods and our table overflowed. Her home was immaculate and yet welcoming, as a natural host and talented chef often themed parties or impromptu gatherings could be enjoyed at our home. During these days, Nini worked at Kmart, Weight Watchers, and she joined Jerry to do books at “Jerry’s Autobody & Paint”. They eventually opened “Gerard’s Coffee House” in 1983 where her culinary skills saved the family home as people lined up for her soups and pastries. Mom then went on to get her Class 2 with air and drove school bus for St. Ann’s Academy which served her as volunteering during Canada Games. Enjoying Judo, skiing at Tod Mountain, and helping fundraise (with Jerry) for the building of Holy Family Parish, mom found her real calling at Action Construction as she moved from a one-woman accounting department to a senior staff with her Associate Bachelor degree as Accounting Technician. In the late 1990s she embarked on another business with Jerry as SunStar Shuttle took skiiers from YKA to SunPeaks Resort. Selling this business in 2008, Mom and Dad were able to travel more; having driven a camper full of kids to British Honduras in Dec 1973, across Canada with a van full of kids in 1981, The original Love Boat to Virgin Islands, throughout Europe, Finland, The Holy Land, Japan, China, Mexico, and finally Hawaii. During these years Nini was well known to the International Student community as host mother to over 100 students who stayed (and ate) with mom from 1993-2016. Mom’s faith was a source of strength and solace to her family and she never denied anyone a helping hand. As eucharistic minister visiting the sick at RIH she was truly “one who lived her faith”. Continuing to do accounting up until the week she died, Nini did books for Mike “Rust Valley Restorers” Hall, Jason “Powder Ventures” White, Dr. Paul Hunter at Summit Vet, and also Total Vent and Green Tower “Wizards” Cannabis. Mom, having raised her last two children as a single mom, was also instrumental in helping care for and raise her 3 grandchildren while Remi and Shawn were each busy also as single parents. Passionate about animals she had many pets and fed “her birds” every day. Predeceased by Olga and Gerald Willan, several aunts, uncles and cousins, her sister and brother-in-law Dale and Bob Dixon, and her great nephew Justin Morgan, she leaves to mourn her passing; her life-long companion Jerry Hamonic and children Wynn, Shawn, Remi and Tawd (Nicole Cherneski) with Ron and Penny Lesieur and their children Raquel (Wayne) , Jay (Angela) and Krystal (Cody) with grandchildren Aliyah (Wyatt) and Graeden Nute, and Peter Hamonic. Also grieving her is sister Pegi Willan, nieces Cheryl (Dave) Lionas, Adele Dixon, Destini Willan, and nephews Malaki and Erin Swales, cousins in the Lanyon Family and many family, friends and homestay children around the world.

The Family would like to express their sincere thanks to the paramedics, RIH nursing staff in Emergency, CCU, 7North, 4North (Tasha) and our deep appreciation goes to the Respiratory Therapy Department, Dr. Kambo, Dr. Nair, Dr. Pun, Dr. Chow, Dr. Prasad, Dr.Ortved, Dr. Hack, Dr. Wong and to Dr. Gabriel, Tracey Stone and the team at the Cancer Clinic. Mom was in RIH in April 2021 and now again this October. We cannot say enough to convey our appreciation for the team at RIH, they treated us like family. Lastly, thank you to Sacred Heart and Holy Family Parishes, especially to Father Fred Weisbeck for being with mom at her most crucial time.

Prayers will be recited on Sunday November 21, 2021 at 5 pm with Funeral Mass on Monday at 11 am both at Holy Family Parish. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the RIH Foundation on behalf of the Respiratory Therapy department, to the Holy Family Parish roofing fundraiser, or feed the birds outside your door and think of Mom.