With great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Bjørghild on March 30, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. She will be deeply missed but we know that she lived a happy life.

She is survived by her adoring husband of 64 years, Don, daughters Elaine and Betty (Bob); brother Harold (Enid), sisters Solveig and Gudrun, as well as her grandchildren Erik (Shelby), Sarah (Tyler) and Hanna, great-grandchildren Mackenzie, Irie and Brody, nieces and nephews in BC, Alberta and England and other family in Norway and BC. Pre-deceased by father Oluf, mother Signe, brother Knut and sister Irene and son-in-law George.

Bjørg was born in Tysfjord, Nordland, Norway on May 21, 1927 and by the age of 4 months was accompanying her older brother and sister and parents across the Atlantic to settle in Sexsmith northern Alberta. They joined her dad’s two brothers and their families to homestead as grain farmers outside Sexsmith. After living in a small cabin for 5 years while a log house was built with Norwegian skill, the ever expanding family finally moved in. It wasn’t an easy life but one with happy memories.

As was the way at the time, mom found pen pals to write to, one of them being Louise Gjertsen, a young Norwegian girl, living in Aldergrove. When Mom reached the age of 21 she was permitted to visit Louise, which ended up being a permanent move. She worked as a nanny, in various retail positions including for a number of years at Pender Book Store. We were the happy recipients of many British books and magazines.  In May of 1953, she happened to be at a dance where she met a handsome fellow. Dad always teased that mom chased him but mom was adamant it was the other way around. It was a meeting meant to be and they married in the late fall.

Wherever they lived the door was always open for family and many holidays were spent at mom and dad’s homes. She loved her family so much. In summer there was the trip to Sexsmith to stay with Bestemor and Bestefar on the farm, which mom so enjoyed and was idyllic for us kids.

Dad adopted Norwegian food traditions making pickled herring and helped mom make lefse, flatbread and rulepølse, while she baked many tasty treats. She was proud of her heritage and gave her flag a prominent place.

Mom couldn’t just sit so besides her other activities such as cooking and sewing she really enjoyed crocheting many doilies, placemats, blankets and dolls that have found their way to many countries. Mom also worked part time at Sears in Burnaby for 25 years, in Housewares, which was a perfect fit for her.

They enjoyed dinners and dances at Trøndelag Niddar and the Scandinavian Centre in Burnaby, trips to Oregon and California in their various trailers and motor homes and trips to Sexsmith to visit family and friends.

In 2006 mom and dad decided that it was time to move to a smaller house and  Southpointe in Ladner fit the bill, where they created a lovely home. In late 2015, it was decided a home with less upkeep was needed and they were fortunate to move to nearby Augustine House in Ladner. After a year in which mom’s health began to fail, she moved to Haven House within Augustine where she received 24/7 care. Dad visited her numerous times every day to talk about what was in the paper and what the family was up to.

Mom was a kind and gentle person who left us a heritage of kindness and doing for others.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of Haven House at Augustine House for the excellent care mom received in the last 15 months and prior to that, the care of the whole of Augustine House. We all felt at home and welcome whenever we were there.   Special thanks also to Mom’s long-time family physician, Dr. Peter Lutsky and his staff.

Funeral will be held at the Ladner Baptist Church, 5624 Ladner Trunk Rd., Ladner, BC on Saturday, April 28 at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Augustine House Society (3820 Arthur Drive, Delta BC. V4K 5E6) or the Alzheimer’s Society of BC would be appreciated.