Vera Ann Webb

Vera’s family moved to different cities for a few years after she was born and then settled in Fullerton, California where Vera grew up. After doing well in university Vera was rewarded with the opportunity to study abroad for the final year of her bachelor’s degree in political science. She chose to go to the University of Liverpool in 1975 where she soon met Tim Webb and the two were together from then until the end of her life.

They stayed in Liverpool until Vera finished a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and Tim a Masters degree, then they moved to Vancouver, British Columbia where Tim was starting in a PhD program. Vera soon started her own PhD which she completed in molecular biology. She went on to run the lab for the head of the microbiology department. While at UBC she was an active member of Science for Peace.

Tim and Vera wanted to have children, but it was not to be. By the end of 1990 they made the difficult decision to learn how to live a fulfilling life in other ways. They undertook several extended kayak expeditions in the North Coast of BC, built a catamaran, bought land in Tofino, and finally moved there in 1998. Vera loved the move to Tofino and jumped right into volunteer activities; the Pacific Rim Hospice Society, the Raincoast Education Society, a founding member of the Westcoast Winter Music Society and helping to run it for many years, a board member of the Tofino General Hospital Foundation, she was on the board of the BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association, was elected to Council for the District of Tofino, and ran for Mayor but narrowly lost. When not volunteering Vera ran a successful bookkeeping business called Ladies of Ledger and had many small business clients in the community.

Vera loved being part of the community of Tofino and contributing in so many ways. She loved to exercise, cook and eat good food, and walk on the beach everyday rain or shine with her dog Sophie. She enjoyed learning about her father’s Lithuanian heritage and her grandparents’ roots, Buianauskas and Cvirka. The last two years of her life were difficult after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, but she was always optimistic and fought on until the end. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She was predeceased by her nephew Aaron and is survived by her husband Tim, her sister Marcia, her nephew Noah, niece Ariella, two grand nieces Marceline and Bronwyn Vera, and a grand nephew Stirling.

Donations to the Pacific Rim Hospice Society in Tofino would be much appreciated.