Virginia Velma Cronin

Velma passed away at the age of 100 on August 16, 2024. She was cared for at home by her daughter, Sandra, until the age of 99. She spent the last year of her life at the Ellen Sinclair Kennett Lodge in South Surrey. She often thanked her daughter and granddaughter, Nicole, for taking care of her and doing the things she could no longer do. We both overheard her tell the other that they were her favorite person in the world. I’m not sure if you can have two favorites, but it meant the world to hear that.

She was born on May 19, 1924, in Toronto, Ontario. She had seven siblings. She will now be able to join her beloved brother, Sonny, who passed away when he was only 38 years old. She never got over losing him and kept a framed photo of him in her room.

Velma worked as a bookkeeper and kept herself busy after her retirement by helping in the parish rectory, participating in the Catholic Women’s League, and making sandwiches for those in need at the Royal Canadian Legion. One of her proudest moments was when she was selected to sing in the choir for the Papal Mass when the Pope visited Canada.

When she was young, she wanted to serve a role in WWII, but she was too small. She was well below 5 feet but had a personality and sense of humor that drew people’s attention to her. One of the things I will miss the most about my grandmother was her ability to make me laugh out loud at least once every time I saw her. I started to write her clever one liner down so that I wouldn’t forget. She loved to be around people, and they loved her too. She was the oldest person in her care home, but she kept everyone on their feet.

We were so blessed to have such a strong, smart, and caring woman in our lives. Those who remain will be forever changed because of her; Sandra Elizabeth Nelson (daughter), Paul Stephen Cronin (son) and wife Tilly, and Nicole Elise Nelson (granddaughter).