Jean Margaret MacPherson

Date: Saturday, December 30th

Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Place: White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Avenue, White Rock BC

(fully accessible, with underground and street level parking). Map: https://goo.gl/maps/KkNhkB5VjUD2

If you are unable to attend and would like to send a message of condolence, or to read Jean's obituary, please visit www.victoryfuneralcentre.ca.

In lieu of flowers, Jean requested donations be made to the following charitable organizations:

•Camp Good Times - www.campgoodtimes.org/donate

•Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society - www.volunteercancerdrivers.ca/

•Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary - call 604-531-5512

All are welcome. Please forward this email to Jean's friends, neighbours and colleagues. If you would like to share a memory or a photo to be included in the tribute, and/or to RSVP, please reply to [email protected]

Happy holidays and best wishes,

Anita (Tiki) Nielsen, Judith Copland and Sandra Smith

Jean MacPherson (Nielsen), nee Poulsen, of White Rock, B.C. passed peacefully at the age of 86, surrounded by her loving friends and family. Jean is survived by her daughters Sandra Smith (Brad), Judith Copland (Gabor) and Anita Nielsen; sister Grete Trachuk (Tony) and brother Ken Poulsen (Kerry); grandchildren Lawren Smith (Laura), Genevieve Hohnadel (Franck), Connor Smith (Sophie), and Mason and Oliver Fentum; great grandchildren Cooper, Luca, Marly and Everly; and her many nieces and nephews and family by marriage.

Jean was a force of nature and lived her life to the fullest. Of Danish descent, Jean was born in Pugwash, Nova Scotia, and grew up on the family farm in Cooksville, Ontario. With her spirit for adventure calling, she travelled west to visit her grandmother at age of 16 and met her future husband Tommy Erik Nielsen (1918-1974). They settled in White Rock, B.C., where she remained for nearly 70 years. Jean and Tommy were fixtures in the Danish Community and regularly took part in traditional Danish folk dancing. She later married Allan MacPherson (1920-1980).

Jean enjoyed many escapades during her life, journeying across Canada and the U.S., Europe, China, New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. She was also was a “skating a mom”, and built many close friendships through the White Rock Figure Skating Club. She loved to golf with the Coyote Creek Ladies Group, and spending time with fellow artists at the South Surrey & White Rock Art Society.

Jean’s generous spirit and willingness to help others was evident throughout her lifetime. Her good works started soon after moving to the area when she successfully lobbied to have the land now known as Crescent Park protected for the benefit of the community. As the head secretary for Semiahmoo Senior Secondary School, White Rock Junior Secondary School and Henry Bose Elementary School, Jean impacted the lives of thousands of children and youth, who knew they could go to “Mrs. Nielsen” whenever they needed help. Jean was also an active member of the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary Society for over 40 years and a committed volunteer for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. A cancer survivor herself, Jean’s primary passion was supporting the Canadian Cancer Society. She served as the Office/Campaign Coordinator for the White Rock/South Surrey Unit for more than 20 years, and was a founding member of the Cancer Support Group and the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society.

Jean will be dearly missed by her family, her many friends, and the countless individuals whose lives were touched by her kindness and generosity. A celebration of her life will take place on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at the White Rock Community Centre at 15154 Russell Avenue from 1:00-3:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Jean would appreciate donations to the causes that were important to her: Camp Goodtimes at www.campgoodtimes.org; the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society at www.volunteercancerdrivers.ca; or the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary Society by calling (604) 531-5512.