HODGETTS, James Henry
April 7, 1930 — July 18, 2021
“A country is in mourning, a veteran died today.”
Surrounded by family at the Hospice House Kelowna, James Hodgetts passed away on July 18, 2021, at age 91. Jim was one of six children born during the Depression to the late Howard & Winnifred Hodgetts. Emily Carr was Jim’s Godmother. The family lived in Popkum and Steveston, and in later years he lived on Vancouver Island, in the Kootenays, and in the Cariboo. Jim’s early career was working as a tugboat mate. He joined the Canadian Merchant Marine Navy, as a teenager, in WWII, sailing on the Mohawk Park in the Pacific. In 1956, he joined the Vancouver Police Department. Upon retirement, he worked in the hotel and tourism industries, operating Lee’s Corner at Hanceville, as a motel owner in Salmo, a Regional Director for Sandman Inns, and as Director of Cariboo Tourist Association. All these roles were done with his characteristic sense of humour.
Jim was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Jessie; his siblings Florence, Winnie, Elsie and Gordon. And, he is forever alive in the love of his surviving family: his brother George; sister-in-law Norma Carswell; his children Karen (Francis), Dianna (Tom), Janice (Brian), and Tammy (Jon); grandchildren Adrian, Jamie, Michael, Victoria, Mathew, Brendan, and Breanna; and great-grandchildren Charlotte, Hunter, Ethan, Everly, Adalyn, Jimmy, Darlene, Aubrey, and Bram.
“Home is the sailor, Home from the sea
And the hunter home from the hill”
A Celebration of Life is planned for a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kelowna hospice volunteers at COHA (Central Okanagan Hospice Association) or email at carmen@hospicecoha.org.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of HODGETTS James Henry April 7 1930 — July 18 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique