Obituary of Meryl «Merry» Lee CONNOR
It is with heavy hearts that Merry’s family announces her peaceful passing on June 18th, 2019 after a brief illness. Merry will be forever missed by her daughters, Chelsea (Andrew) and Briana (Michael), her grandchildren Ashlyn, Eloise, Noah and Luca along with her siblings Lawrence “Larry” (Charlotte), Joel “Gerry”, Erin (Colleen), sister-in-law Joy, and her nieces and nephews, Carling, Lilienne, Gerrett, Brendan, Nash, and Alan, and Kari, Kim, Chelsea and Nick. Merry was predeceased by, her parents Gladys “Happy” (nee England) and George Connor, her brother Philip, and her sister Karen, and her former husband Gary Peddle.
Having been born in Victoria, BC, Merry spent some of her younger years in Burlington, Ontario, before settling back in Victoria where she raised her family, built her career and enjoyed her retirement. A passionate learner, Merry spent her entire lifetime gathering knowledge and sharing the gift of education as a teacher and a sage. Highly regarded by those who knew her, Merry completed her Undergraduate Degree in the French language, and her Masters Degree in Linguistics before going on to share her knowledge as a French Teacher in public service at Victoria’s Military Base. She brought her special brand of creativity and enthusiasm as an educator to both La Maison Francais, the French Language Program at the University of Victoria where she made lifelong friendships and Royal Roads University where she taught both French and English. Merry’s love and command of languages also included varying degrees of fluency in Spanish, German, Japanese, Arabic and Russian and was delighted to teach herself Italian in her last year, alongside some wonderful friends in her Italian Group.
Always a teacher, and forever a student, Merry was a lifelong learner. Her insatiable curiosity for new experiences and personal growth led her in many directions, often including those in service to others. A strong believer in social responsibility and stewardship, she shared her time and gifts, volunteering and advocating for a long and varied list of environmental, political, and social organizations. Merry was on the Board of the Victoria Choral Society and a singer there for 24 years. She worked on Electoral Reform, supported Oxfam for more than three decades, was a facilitator for Beyond War, a member of the Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition, and was a volunteer and bedside singer at Victoria Hospice. When Syrian refugees made their way to Victoria in 2015, Merry helped raise money for a family while teaching them English and making them feel welcome in their new home.
A global citizen, she made her way around the world, visiting many destinations including Iceland, the UK, Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Central and South America, Mexico, India and much of Europe. Her sense of place, of walking the earth and communing with nature included training for and walking Le Chemin des Sanctuaire with her friends from les Pistes-olé in eastern Canada and closer to home, summers at her cabin in Bowser and in ‘her favourite place on earth’, her backyard hammock beneath the apple tree and cherry blossoms.
Legacy was important to Merry. She researched her genealogy, writing stories for family members and was part of a Legacy Writing Group which culminated in the creation of a personal folio and distillation book in which she wrote her ‘legacy letters’, imparting wisdom and lessons for those she leaves behind. Merry’s lasting gifts include musical compositions, poems and the creation of a beautiful book for her grandchildren entitled “Seagull Games” along with an accompanying musical score, which has now been illustrated and will soon be published.
While her community and circle of engagement was expansive, nothing mattered more to Merry than family. She cherished her role as a Nana and nurturer; this is where her light shone the brightest. She was the centre of the family, making memories by hosting dinners and events like “Calling All Cousins” and including everyone in games and activities she created for connection. Forever finding ‘teachable moments’ for her grandchildren, Merry made the ordinary extraordinary and found magic in everyday living, sharing wisdom and wonder with those beautiful young minds. Chelsea and Briana agree that “the best parts of our kids come from her, she taught them how to be in this world”.
No one would deny that Merry left this planet better than how she found it. A role model to many, she will be fondly remembered as nurturing, loving and kind. Graciously guided by a sense of awe and reverence for the planet and all its gifts, she lived her life filled with curiosity and a sense of wonder, along with an insatiable appetite for learning and teaching, a love and command of languages, and a strong connection to community and commitment to service. Our lives and all those she graced are so much richer for having known her. Just as love never really leaves us, Merry’s light will continue to shine; blessed are we that knew her.
“If we are to be judged, it will be on whether we took full delight in all the blessings we were offered in this world”
Rabbi Harold Kushner
Merry was interred in a private ceremony at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church on Sunday, June 23rd. The family will welcome all to a celebration of Merry’s life on Saturday, September 7th at 1 pm at Oak Bay United Church, Victoria.
Merry’s family expresses deep and heartfelt thanks to a loving community for their gifts of food, visits, friendship and support and to Victoria Hospice for their incredible kindness and care.
In lieu of flowers and in memory of two of Merry’s favourite societies, memorial donations may be made to the Victoria Choral Society (PO BOX 5509 LCD 9, Victoria, BC V8R 6S4) and Ballet Victoria (PO Box 8877, Victoria, BC, V8W 3Z1). For your convenience you may click on the donations tab on the left menu to donate online.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Meryl Merry
Lee
CONNOR 1951 2019..
earths option cremation and burial services
Décès pour la Ville: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique