Della Jean (nee Cramer) Mackie

We lost our beloved mother and sister, peacefully, on a sunny Thursday morning in Nanaimo, BC. Survived by her children Sasha (James), Michelle (Erick), Tyler (Rebecca) and Cole. Her grandchildren Maya, Dante and Avery; and her sisters Cindy and Wendy, and brothers Mark and Bryan, and her partner Steve.

Born in Red Deer, Alberta, Della and her family moved to Victoria, BC when she was four. She spent her early years at Lambrick Park Elementary and Oak Bay Secondary schools. In her early twenties, she moved up to Ladysmith, BC, where she eventually met her husband Karl and raised four children.

Della worked as a bartender at the Windward Pub in Nanaimo and went on to gain a career as a realtor and worked for Nanaimo Realty. After taking a short period of time off to raise her children, she returned to the workforce with BC Ferries for the next twenty years. She worked in many roles, such as food attendant, gift shop clerk and ticketing booth agent. She also worked as acting Chief Steward and became an OFA attendant, providing urgent medical care to passengers until they were able to reach shore. She has many stories of delivering CPR and saving lives out on the water. Della retired at the age of 61 and has wonderful memories of her "ferry family" she calls it.

Della's pride and joy was in her home crystal business, Mystical Minerals on Gabriola Island. She took an interest in metal-detecting, even finding gold on one of her properties in Canim Lake. She spent some of her final months doing rock shows up and down Vancouver Island, which was her dream retirement job and she absolutely loved.

Della was a genuine friend, sister, partner and mother and always put others before herself. Her fun-loving personality and sense of humor brightened up every room she entered, and she will be sorely missed by those who knew her.

The Celebration of Life is scheduled for September 23, 2023 @ 1:00 p.m. at Transfer Beach Kinsmen Picnic Shelter and all are welcome. We kindly ask that you wear something lavender in honor of those who have passed from cancer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer Agency or The War Amps