Eleanor Ruth van der Sman

A long life, well lived.

Born in Swan River, Manitoba to David and Edith Thorslund, hardworking immigrants from Sweden, Eleanor grew up in Montreal with her four siblings. She served in the Canadian military during WW11 and later graduated from McGill University in 1947 with a degree in business. Her skill was journalism and her passion theatre but she settled on a long and more conventional career and enjoyed many rewarding executive positions including Easter Seal and MOSAIC. Eleanor and her husband Gerald Van der Sman moved to Vancouver in 1958 to be closer to her sisters Lillian and Alice and their families and soon her parents also moved to the west coast.

Gerry passed in 2008 after a lengthy illness; a few years later Eleanor moved to Tapestry. An extrovert, Eleanor was also a life-long learner, critical thinker and superb writer, never missing a meeting of her writing group. She was much loved by her many friends and family members who will long salute her memory with a glass of Nutty Solero and a story.

She leaves behind many devoted nieces and nephews in BC and Ontario as well as brother David (Ottawa) and sister Edith (Belleville) Ontario.

Celebration of Life, March 22, 2pm, Tapestry at Arbutus Village

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.vancouvercrematorium.com for the van der Sman family.