Veronica GREENE

Veronica was born in Swan Hills, Alberta on January 17, 1960.

During her childhood, teens, and early 20s, she lived in various cities, and towns, including Revelstoke, Qualicum Beach, Kaslo, Calgary, and Victoria.

When she arrived in Victoria from Calgary in 1982, she quickly established herself and made plenty of friends. She worked in Victoria as a bus driver for Wilson's Transportation until she moved with her husband, Nathen, to Sproat Lake near Port Alberni in late 1988 when they started their family. While in Port Alberni, she also worked as a bus driver for HandiDart until, in 1997, she and Nathen moved from Sproat Lake and settled in at Coombs.

She kept busy in Coombs over the past 16 years with various types of employment, including driving bus for Nanaimo First Nation (Snaw-naw-as), and working in Parksville at The Salvation Army Thrift Store and at Cultivate Garden and Gift.  In very recent years, and when time was available, Veronica pursued her keen interest in providing health and nutritional advice as a natural health practitioner.

Veronica was never one to sit idle. She would typically be seen running errands around Parksville, Qualicum and Coombs.  She took much delight in visiting the Errington Market on Saturdays during the spring and summer, where she would pick up her fresh, organic vegetables and fruit while chatting, visiting and sharing laughs with people she knew. She always looked forward to having coffee and catching up with her senior male friends at the Coombs Country Market on Sunday mornings.

She was a lively, adventurous, free spirit, and her endless energy was infectious. She loved to dance, laugh, and have fun, and was often seen at many events throughout the region, such as dances, markets, music festivals and fairs. She enjoyed visiting the old float cabin (at Kildonan on Uchucklesaht Inlet) with Nathen, where she watched him spend countless hours restoring it. Veronica took great pleasure in gardening and the opportunity it gave her to connect with nature, which was evident by the beautiful plants and gardens she lovingly tended at her and Nathen's property.

Veronica was a loving, giving, selfless, and compassionate woman with a witty sense of humour and a beautiful spirit. She was loved, cherished and valued by so many. Highly devoted and committed to relationships and friendships, she was a pillar of strength for all of us and the epitome of unconditional love.

Veronica is survived by her loving husband and soulmate of 26 years, Nathen; her sons, Harreson, and Troy (Allisa, and grandchildren Caleb and Heidi); sisters Sharon Hart (Ken), Karen Kelly (Peter) and Roslin Tanner (formerly Karla Baines); brothers Leverne Duckmanton (Jean), Trevor Ahiers, Lance Herriott (Marguerite), Roderick Lachlin (Jane), and Ed Jeune (Sharon); sisters-in-law Marilyn Dingsdale (Larry), Sherry Ballard (Frank), and Sheila Kristjan (Tavi); brothers-in-law Dougal Green, and Roderick Green (Deborah); numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and her beloved dogs Molly, Miloh, Gunner, and cat, Jo.

She is predeceased by her mother, Phyllis Stalinski (Ahiers) in 1992; her father, Dennis Ahiers in 2007; her sisters, Roni Schlueter in 2004, and Carmen Ahiers in 2005; and her best, furry friend and beloved dog, Fez, in May 2013.

Veronica's wish was to be cremated. A Memorial Service to celebrate her life will be held on Monday, December 30 at Yates Funeral Service, 1000 Allsbrook Road in Parksville. A Public Viewing will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 pm with Service to follow.

For those wishing to donate flowers, please send them to Yates Funeral Service.

The family sincerely thanks all of those who loved and cared for Veronica in countless ways.