Our lives are less colourful today as it is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, Nona Archibald, on May 23, 2020 at the age of 97.
She was predeceased by her husband, Pat, in January of 1997, her brother Tom, and sisters Barbara and Adele. Nona is survived by her loving family: sons Paul (Cheryl) and Chris (Rosemary) and daughter Susan (Martin); grandchildren Megan (Jeff), Shannon, Chelsea, Daniel, Lisa, Alison and Rhianna; great-grandchildren Madeleine and Charlotte and many nieces and nephews.
Nona was born in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan, to Stella Wright and Austin Horn and raised on a farm near Strasbourg during the Depression. Her early life did not provide many creature comforts but did provide many stories with which she entertained her young family at bedtime. She moved to Calgary in 1942 where she received training as a stenographer. In 1946, she was hired by the CM&S Co. (now Teck) and worked in the main office in Trail. It was shortly thereafter that she met the love of her life, Pat, and in 1948 they were married. She and Pat lived in Trail for a time and then moved to Warfield in 1958 to provide more space for their growing family.
Nona worked shoulder to shoulder with Pat as they grew the business they owned, Camera Crafts, and built their cherished cabin in Silverton in the Slocan Valley. Following the sale of their business, Nona, who had boundless energy, remained an active woman into her 90s and continued to swim every summer in Slocan Lake and live in her own home until she was 93. She was a long-time volunteer for both the Heart and Stroke Foundation and with the Trail Hospital Auxiliary. She was an avid bridge player, skier (she was the first secretary of the Red Mountain Ski Club) and gardener, and enjoyed many outdoor pursuits, but always kept a wary eye out for bears and cougars. Her active lifestyle nurtured many treasured friendships, which sustained her through the latter years of her life, and the family acknowledges with gratitude the many people of Trail and area who enabled and enriched her life.
Nona loved family, had a zest for life and was not afraid to follow her passions. Ever careful in her appearance, she was a snappy dresser. And she loved colour: colourful clothes, a colourful garden and all of nature’s colourful expressions. She would not want any of us to be sad at her passing as she led a full and happy life. So in her memory, please wear a bit of colour today.
We love you Mum. We will always be together in our hearts.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Castleview Care Centre for their excellent care of Nona and extend an invitation to all those who knew her to attend a Funeral Mass and celebration of her life to be held in later this summer or at a later date, in accordance with current guidelines. Al Grywacheski of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services™ has been entrusted with arrangements.
As an expression of sympathy, donations in Nona’s memory may be made to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Health Foundation at 1200 Hospital Bench, Trail, BC, V1R 4M1 or online at www.kbrhhealthfoundation.ca
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Nona Mary Archibald May 23rd 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Trail, Province: Colombie britanique