Thelma James

APRIL 2, 1920 – JANUARY 31, 2016

Thelma James, aged 95 years, passed away peacefully in North Vancouver. She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Alfred James, in 1993. She is lovingly remembered by her son Lewis (Teresa); son Warren (Barbara); granddaughter Heather; grandson Daryl; great-grandson Isaiah; and many relatives in Australia.

Thelma was born in Waterlooville, Hampshire, England. In 1929, she moved with her parents to Toronto, Ontario where she finished her schooling. Ten years later, they moved to Vancouver, where Thelma completed business school and worked in the Accounts department at the BC Telephone Company. She met her husband Ken while on holiday in the Rockies with her mother. Ken was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, serving in Canada as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan. In 1945, Thelma went to Australia on a bride ship to join Ken and be married. In 1948, the couple came back to Canada, and lived in Shawnigan Lake and then in Vancouver while raising their family. In 1986, they retired to Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast. They moved back to the Lower Mainland after a few years, and when Ken passed away, Thelma moved back to her original Vancouver neighbourhood, Kerrisdale, where she lived for another 20 years. She moved to Sunrise Senior Living in North Vancouver in the summer of 2014.

Thelma was a woman of many talents. As a young woman, she loved horseback riding. She was an accomplished pianist and violinist, and taught both instruments for many years in Vancouver. She also played violin in a number of amateur orchestras, as well as a string quartet. She loved to travel, and took many exciting trips on almost every continent with Ken. She did beautiful needlework, and was an expert gardener. Thelma was also a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She kept in touch with friends and relatives around the world. She attended events at the Kerrisdale Seniors’ Centre for many years, where she met up with friends almost every day of the week. Thelma’s warmth and kindness will be missed by all who knew her.

A Celebration of Thelma’s life will be held in the reception room at First Memorial Services, 1505 Lillooet Rd. in North Vancouver on Thursday, March 17th at 2 pm. Special thanks go to all the Sunrise of Lynn Valley staff who took such good care of Thelma right up to the end. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favourite charity.