Theresa Terry Jeanette Delaney Bush

Terry was born July 1st, 1930 in the coal mining town of Inverness, Nova Scotia and was raised in the New Waterford area. She left home at age 17 to work in Halifax and later in Montreal, where she found work as telephone operator and supervisor for Bell Canada. After 5 years she had managed to save enough money (despite sending half of her paychecks back to her family in Nova Scotia) to be able to return to New Waterford to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Upon graduating with honours and perfect marks from the New Waterford General nursing school in 1956, she joined the Air Force in 1957 and was transferred to St. Sylvester, PQ, where she met Herman, her future husband of 52 years. They married in November 1958.

While raising her four children, she worked full and part-time, including returning to school to study psycho-geriatric nursing in 1976. As she had handled many other challenges in life, she managed all this while being a military officer’s wife which required frequent moves. Their retirement posting brought Terry and her family to Kelowna in 1978. Here she continued to positively impact the lives of others through her work in geriatric and psychiatric nursing, first at Cottonwoods and then at KGH’s MacNair Unit.

Upon retirement, she continued sharing Herman’s dream of operating the small orchard they had purchased. Her musical talents were limited to playing the spoons and the tape deck, but she loved listening to music and could always be heard whistling her favourite melodies. Terry and Herman were avid travelers during their working years, visiting family and friends across Canada and wintering in the Arizona desert. When Terry retired from nursing, she and Herman were able to expand their travels to visiting countries such as Ireland and Australia. However, the Arizona desert was still her favourite destination.

Terry always had tremendous energy and was always helping with something, frequently foregoing her own pleasures to help out a family member or a friend. Her passions centered on her family and her home. Her passing has left a huge void in her family’s lives.

Terry is survived by her loving husband Herman, her four children Michelle Colcerin, Lise (Karl) Dierdorf, Jocelyn (Dave) Tonge, and Dan (Carol) Bush. She is lovingly remembered by her sisters Dorothy, Mary and Anne, and brother Calyxte. She leaves behind grandchildren Jeff (Christy) Tonge, Garry Tonge, Rebecca, Patrick and Robert Dierdorf, Kalli Colcerin, Delaney Bush, and great-grandchild Lynken Tonge. Terry was predeceased by her eldest sister Virginia in 2005.

The family owes much to Dr. Tara Sebulsky for her caring medical expertise and emotional support during Terry’s illnesses these past eight years. As well, we acknowledge the lifetime of family care provided by Dr. L.W. Nash before Dr. Sebulsky’s arrival. Our thanks also go to Drs Czerkawski and Kahn in helping us navigate some of Terry’s end of life issues. In addition, we would like to acknowledge the staff at the Central Okanagan Hospice House for their loving care during Terry’s brief stay with them. Most importantly, Herman and his family can’t say enough about the wonderful team of care aides and LPN’s, led by Kelly at the Brandt’s Creek Mews care facility. We are so grateful for the exceptional compassion, kindness, friendship and

respect shown to all of us, and most especially to Terry. You all helped to make an unbearable situation tolerable for us.

A private celebration of life will be held Friday, July 29th at 4 p.m. at her family home where friends and family are invited to say their last goodbyes to this wonderful wife, mother and friend.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memory of Terry to the Brandt’s Creek Apple Grove Comfort Fund 300 - 2081 Cross Rd, Kelowna, BC V1

Arrangements under the direction of Valleyview Funeral Home, Kelowna, BC. (250-765-3147)