December 9, 1928 – May 16, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Una Robin Austin (nee Smith) at the age of 93, at the Overlander Extended Care Home in Kamloops, BC.
Una was born on December 9, 1928 to the late Verian and Gladys (nee Ford) Smith in Hemford, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. At around 10 years of age, her family moved to Collingwood, Nova Scotia. She graduated Grade 10 in Oxford and attended Business College in Truro, Nova Scotia.
On April 9, 1947, she married Kenneth Lloyd Austin in Collingwood, Nova Scotia. In 1948, Kenneth, Una, and their young son Larry moved out West by train for work. It was the year of the Alberta and BC great floods and they had to take the last leg of the journey by plane to Vancouver, BC (Una was quite excited to fly but was “mad as a hornet” when Larry’s baby shoe was lost). They settled on the southern coast of BC near Gibsons. Getting to a hospital in Vancouver to deliver their sons Danny and John meant being taken in a rowboat to make connections.
As Kenneth’s work moved, their home moved from BC, to Ontario, to Quebec, and to New Brunswick. Kenneth and Una finally settled in Kamloops, where they lived out their retirement years. They were committed to family, and made many journeys across Canada to Nova Scotia, as well as travelling extensively throughout the USA. Una had a passion for yard sales and enjoyed picking up trinkets – especially pigs and teapots. And, she never passed a Bingo hall – even when she joined Overlander Extended Care Home, she would always be the first one at the Bingo table. Una also enjoyed reading, and Louis L’Amour was her favourite. She also made quilts for her children and grandchildren.
Una and Kenneth truly loved having their home open to family and friends – making sure all cousins could get together. She was always open to a joke or two and lively conversation. She loved old-time music, especially when Kenneth played the fiddle and the boys chimed in on their guitars.
Left to mourn are her sons, Larry of Hudson’s Hope, BC and John (Penny) of Kamloops, BC, 7 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth; her son, Danny; her sister, Edna Austin of Collingwood, Nova Scotia; and a sister in infancy. Una represented the last of a generation of our family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service. No funeral will be held by request. She will be laid to rest beside Kenneth at Hillside Cemetery. We would like to give special thanks to Dr. Wynn, Susan, and all the staff at Evergreen in Overlander. Thank you so much for taking such wonderful care of her in her last years.
In her words: “Toot!! Toot!!”
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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