George Thomas Stephens

April 13, 1937 – November 27, 2019

Our dear George is now free of the terrible burden of Lewy Body Dementia. His brain tissue will be used for research into solving the mysteries of this debilitating disease.

George’s family has many thank-yous to offer.

Thank to ALL the staff at the Parkview facility on Heather Street for their WONDERFUL care of George and his family, especially over the last days of his life. We will be forever grateful. We were able to spend as much time with him as we needed to say our good-byes and come to terms with his impending death. I would wish for everyone the same gentle transition from this world to the next.

Our thanks, also, for the care he received at Royal City Manor in New Westminster and Richmond Lions Manor Bridgeport in Richmond BC. Their staff helped George to be as active and engaged as his worsening symptoms permitted.

Thanks, too, to his long-time family physician, Dr. Angelo Mazzarella. George so looked forward to his medical appointments with “Dr. Mazz” as they enjoyed a lovely relationship that involved much kidding back and forth. Dr. Mazzarella and MOA Sophia Lau, have been such caring supports for George’s wife, as well. Thanks-you both so much.

George was also a patient of Dr. Dean Foti at the UBC Clinic for Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders. He and the geneticist and social worker were so helpful in caring for George and explaining the realities and ramifications of Lewy Body Dementia to his family. This information helped us understand what our dear one was going through.

Many thanks, also to Ken Reynolds and his wife Margot for their visits. George went to school with Ken and later taught with him! Mark Stanton was George’s running buddy for many years, who kept in touch and kept “the boys” apprised of George’s progress. Paul Brown, one of the running group, visited George too. Thank-you.

About George:

George was born in Vancouver to parents Jack (VFD, Ret’d) and Jean (nee Armstrong), who both pre diseased him. His Dad predeceased him in 1976 and his Mom in 1995. His only sibling, younger sister Margaret Stephens, died on May 20, 2019. He is survived by cousins - MaryAnne Jackson and family; Brian Armstrong (Pat) and family; and Marlene Bond and family.

George grew up in the Dunbar area and attended Bayview Elementary and Kitsilano High School. He had a paper route in the area and spent many happy times on the “plains of Abraham” as they called the cliffs above the beach. He was in Air Cadets, too.

He took Grade 13 at King Ed and then went into the insurance business. Good friend Ken Reynolds encouraged him to look into teaching in the Industrial Education field. He followed through with this training and taught in Valemont, McBride, Merritt and Maple Ridge, before ending up back at his alma mater, Kitsilano from which he retired in 1995. George enjoyed teaching and expected the best from his students. He marked student projects pretty carefully and, in fact, judged all workmanship on any item anywhere, by his stringent standards! And some of his students may remember milkshakes!!

He enjoyed working with his fellow teachers and considered them his good friends. The annual retirees Christmas lunch was favourite he looked forward to each year.

George met his wife, Doreen on a blind date in March 1963 set up by his good friend Barry Mulgrew and Doreen’s friend Sheila Kirby. They became engaged that summer and married on July 11, 1964. Barrie & Sheila married in 1964, too, and the four have been close friends ever since.

Two children were born, to complete the family. Daughter Jennifer Stephens now lives in Calgary with her son, Jonah Weightman (15) and son David, wife Jennifer and their children Jackson (18) and Olivia (16) live in Surrey. George loved his family greatly and would go to great lengths to make sure were all well and happy.

Following retirement George did a great deal of genealogy, finding out information about his family in Devon & Scotland. His Scottish heritage was very strong - he like to save a quarter out of every dime he earned!! He was famous for his “Thrift”!!

Sometime after we settled in our house on Yukon Street, George began feeling a little pudgy and decided to take up running. He joined a running group at the South Slope Y and his life changed forever. He made friends with “the boys” - Mark, Bent, Paul, Eddy – to name a few. He ran marathons and many, many, many 10k’s. He kept putting off knee replacements because he didn’t want to have to stop running, but eventually gave in and subsequently had both knees replaced.

Jack Russell Terrier, Riley, acquired in 1998, kept him walking at least – Riley was a close companion for George for 14 years.

George was predeceased by his in-laws, Doreen’s parents Fran & Ed Stitt and by his brother-in-law, Marvin Sigerson. Surviving are Doreen’s sister, Barbara Sigerson and her family; her brother Bill Stitt (Pat) and family and her sister Wendy Pierrot (Stephen) and family. He was very fond of all his nieces & nephews and great nieces & nephews, as well.

Doreen was very active in her church, St. Augustine’s, Marpole. George supported her and participated, in his way. Each year, George borrowed a loud hailer and was the “announcer” at church picnics. He used his considerable woodworking skills to create several pieces for the church – two stands for Sunday flowers, candelabra, an Advent wreath, a Credence table, a shelf for the cross as well as the church office counter which holds the seasonal hangings for the front of the church. And, he assisted in moving the altar forward to its present position. Lovely tangible remembrances!

George supported charities that aided women suffering from violence; children in need; and animal welfare. A gift to one of these, in lieu of flowers, would be lovely.

While George was not perfect, he was definitely one of the good guys. We will miss him terribly.

Wife Doreen, daughter Jennifer and son David invite his friends to say good-bye on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 1:30 pm at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church at 8680 Hudson Street at 71st Avenue in Vancouver.