Phyllis Helena Hood

Hood, Phyllis Helena (nee Wright) of Cherry Point, passed away peacefully in Victoria, B.C., Jan.10th, 2024, aged 94 years. Born July 11th, 1929, in Pine Falls, MB, to Helen and Bud Wright, Phyllis was predeceased by her husband, Robin, and son, Mike. She is survived by her sister, Norma Crabbe, daughter Cathy Yeomans (Mike) and grandchildren Jason (Suzanne), Robyn (Jean), Angela (Myles), Jay (Samantha) and Samantha (Liam). Phyllis leaves seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. She will be fondly remembered by sister-in-law, Georgie, as well as many nephews, nieces, friends, and neighbours.

Phyllis embraced living and believed in ‘happening to life’ rather than allowing life to happen to her. As a three year old, she dreamed of becoming a nurse and described herself as already having tunnel vision! Phyllis earned her RN, her BSCN and then her Master’s in Nursing. A lifelong learner, she was curious and thoughtful, determined and resourceful in her pursuits. During her career, Phyllis helped to close King’s Daughters Hospital in Duncan, and to design Cowichan District Hospital, where she later served as Assistant to the Matron. Returning to Vancouver, she was appointed Director of Ambulatory Care and Special Services at VGH. Phyllis then moved into the Executive Director’s role at the Cancer Society for B.C. and the Yukon, retiring to Cherry Point after twelve years with the society.

During her retirement, Phyllis explored many alternatives to western medicine, including therapeutic touch. She believed there was a place and time for each modality in health and wellness. Phyllis had a natural affinity for animals and applied her practice to them as well. Phyllis loved entertaining. Cookbooks, internet printouts, and timelines covered horizontal surfaces as she prepped. She was generous with her bottled delights and with jars of chutney and green tomato mincemeat! Phyllis shared her garden’s bounty and kitchen experiments with everyone.

Phyllis and Robin traveled widely together; she loved to plan and research every trip. A journey to Iceland with Norma renewed interest in their maternal heritage. Phyllis was proud of direct lineage on her father’s side to Philemon Rudolphus Wright, an early pioneer in the Ottawa Valley. She maintained the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa were still on Wright family land!

Phyllis especially enjoyed music: she loved to perform, to sing harmony, to dance and, in later years, to conduct from her chair! She embraced painting, design and potting - both in clay and in soil. Gardening was her passion; even as her ability to engage waned, mom perked up whenever plants were mentioned. On walks she would suggest taking clippings from any garden she admired. In years past at Cherry Point, Phyllis could often be found in the sunroom with a paint brush fertilizing by hand. Many will remember her forays to the beach for seaweed mulch. Phyllis would stop gardening to chat with everyone who passed by; her daily walks, more often than not, turned into social events.

Kind, wise, and fearless, Phyllis spoke her mind and advocated for people and causes in which she believed. She encouraged others to reach far and achieve more wherever their interests lay. We know her abundant energy is still around us.

Many thanks to the staff at Douglas Care Community - they really do care.

Phyllis had a warm and beautiful smile. If you’re inclined, share a smile with someone today in her memory.There won’t be a gathering; mom’s 90th birthday party at Cherry Point was a wonderful celebration of a life well lived. Her ashes will be interred at a later date in the Anglican cemetery at Westholme.