Sheila Nelson
January 3, 2024
In Loving Memory
Sheila Nelson
Sheila came from England to Kamloops in 1956 to work as an X-ray technician. She quickly formed friendships and met Ralph at the local ski club. They married in 1958. Verity was born when they lived on Lorne Street, then Chris came along and Dad started to build the house in Rayleigh, where they lived until 2012. Cliff was born on a Christmas Day. Sheila’s mother Catherine died of cancer before Sheila set off for Canada. Her father, Laurence and second wife Marguerite made the journey to Canada to see the young ones. Sheila served the Kamloops area in the X-ray department of the Burris Clinic and the Irving Clinic. Through her work and on the ski hills she met a lot of people who would become lifelong friends. When the children were able to amuse themselves independently, their mother began to volunteer for various organizations in the Kamloops community, with an emphasis on social justice. Some of these were The Voice of Women, Ten Days for World Development and the CanGo Grannies. Sheila’s interests extended to the Kamloops Symphany Orchestra and live theater throughout the city. Sheila and Ralph enjoyed regularly hosting friends for dinners. After retirement, Sheila and Ralph travelled to many places all over the world. In the fishing boat, Mum preferred to read as Ralph threw out a line. She would have several books on the go at a time, always on the hunt for expanded knowledge, and ever curious about the world. Over a period of more than 60 years, Sheila and Ralph supported each other through thick and thin, demonstrating a bond that sustained each of them throughout their marriage. Our cherished mother lived a life that was rich and full, for which we are so grateful.
Sheila was predeceased by; her parents Laurence and Catherine Beckett, aunts Lily, Jean, Nancy and uncle Stan.
Sheila is survived by her husband of 64 years, Ralph Nelson.
Her daughter Verity (Collin) Brink, her sons Chris (Sharon Fraser) Nelson and Cliff (Kathy) Nelson and grandchildren Tyler and Elyse.
Memorial Service for Sheila is arranged for Friday, January 19 at 2pm. at the Kamloops United Church, 421 St. Paul Street, Kamloops.
Arrangements entrusted to
Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-554-2324
Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services:
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Comments: 13
Thinking of you all in the passing of your Mum, Wife, Mum-in-law, Grandmother and friend.
We wish you all peace as you bid farewell to her. As the sadness and pain of losing her
lessens may your hearts be filled with gratitude for a life well lived and well loved.
Love and light to you all.
I got to know your mom well during the time we worked on our Social Justice book. A true advocate for Social Justice Issues. Loved our visits with lunches out and at Berwick.
Laughter and great discussions. I will miss her.
My sincere condolences to Ralph and the family.
It has been an honour to work with Sheila on many social justice issues and to stand up with her to support others. We will miss Sheila and we send our condolences to Ralph, family, and friends. Rest well Sheila.
Sheila was a long time New Democrat and well known to many of our members and candidates over the years. She was passionate about social justice and it was my pleasure to regularly receive her messages of support, with kind comments and a concern for fairness – that we take care of each other in our communities and society, today and in the future – leaving no one behind. We express our appreciation for her many contributions to making things better for others. We will miss her kindness and wisdom. On behalf of the Executive and Members of Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo New Democrats we express our deepest condolences to Ralph and the family. The memories, good works and love endures. Sincerely, Bill Sundhu (President, KTC-NDP)
So sorry to hear of Sheila’s passing. Like so many others, I came to know her through her work on social justice issues and tireless advocacy for a fairer, most just society. Deepest condolences to Ralph and the family. I hope you can take some comfort in knowing that Sheila left the world a better place.
Jan. 13/24.
Dear Family and Friends of the late Mrs. Sheila Nelson:
Hello! How are you doing? I’m sorry to hear about your loss. Moreover, I remember having very good memories of essentially all of the Nelson family, which started almost as soon as my family moved from Heffley Creek to Rayleigh, BC, staying temporarily at the Rayleigh Motel while our new house on Puett Ranch Road was being finished.
Mrs. Nelson: Hi! I will be forever grateful to you for what I recall as incidents of you providing something like a voice of reason at (?-something to do with rights and fairness. It could have been during a political activity-event or at Western Canada Theatre, around the time when Mr. D. Michael Dobbin was Artistic Director, and Sue Ferley an Actress, performing in Tennessee William’s “[the] Glass Menagerie.” I don’t remember for certain where and when you and I were in circulation, but I have you associated with some very sweet memories.)
You shall be missed 🙂
Renee K. Taylor,
Kamloops, BC
[email protected].
My thoughts are with Ralph and family at this time. Sheila was a wonderful friend. I admired her activism and believes. We had wonderful discussions right up to the end. We often exchanged books on politics and social justice. Sheila was the inspiration for a book written locally on women from Kamloops, “Not Just a Tea Party: Women’s Contribution to Community Life”. I will be ever grateful for every thing I learned from Sheila. I will miss her a great deal.
Sheila was a neighbour in Rayleigh for several years in the 1960s.
She was a wonderful neighbour and friend, always considerate and thoughtful.
Some of our children played together as they were around the same ages. Cliff was the same age as my son Colin and were great friends in the Rayleigh elementary school. .
Our entire family will miss our dear friend Sheila.
Sandra Taylor
Dear Ralph, Verity, Chris & Cliff, it seems we’ve been friends for most of my lifetime and that’s more than 60 years. I think I met your family when I was about 4 or 5 and we visited Kamloops from Quesnel. A few years later we moved to Kamloops and our two families spent many happy times together.
So sad to hear of Sheila’s passing. She was a very special woman and I have such fond memories. She will be so missed by many.
My deepest sympathies to all of you and the rest of your family.
Much love from both Trish and I.
Hello,
I send my condolences to all the Nelson family.
Years ago – I can’t remember how many – I met Sheila through the NDP and Ralph on the ski hill.
More recently, I enjoyed great discussions and book exchanges with her about current affairs, both good and evil.
I will miss our chats.
And, as we were both X-ray techs, we shared many professional acquaintances – the source of some amusement and gossip.
Sheila was a valuable member of the community and will be missed by many.
Fanny.
I am thinking of your whole family during this sad time. Sheila will be dearly miss by many. My parents (Bernie and Jean Moore), moved to Kamloops in 1965. Mom used to say that Sheila was her first friend in Kamloops. I think the connection had something to do with getting CBC radio into Kamloops. Ralph and Sheila shared a lot of adventures together with my parents. Skiing in the winter, and camping/canoe trips in the summers. Mom and Sheila’s friendship lasted through the decades, and Sheila was one of my last connections to my Mom and Dad. I always enjoyed hearing her stories from when they were all so much younger. So sorry for your loss Ralph and kids.
Megan
Our prayer are with the Nelson’s Family. May God surround all of you with His great love, during this difficult time. The Coriale’s from the Rayleigh Community.
My condolences to the family. Sheila was a very special person to me over the 30 years working in the community. I remember when I first came to Kamloops in the late 80s – Sheila and I worked together on a event for the ” Ten Days of World Development” I didn’t know Kamloops as well and she welcomed me into the community She was an advocate for the vulnerable in the community and a champion for food security. Sheila was a big support to me when I started the Kamloops Food Policy Council and came to all the initial meetings and sat on our board! We had a celebration for the 20th Anniversary a few years back and she was honored as a pioneer member. Whenever you needed support or someone to bounce ideas off – it was Sheila who I went to . I saw her a few years back and we had a nice visit reminiscing the early years. She had a very positive impact on our community and me personally. Kamloops is a better place because of Sheila Nelson!