It is with heavy hearts we say goodbye to our loving Momma, Gramma and friend Beryl, who passed away peacefully at Eden Gardens Dementia Care in Nanaimo, BC at the age of 93.
She is survived by her five children: Sharron Beason (Rob), Heather Dunville (Glenn), Larry Rikley, Michael Rikley (Cheryl), and Wendy Hayward (David), as well as her 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Pre-deceased by: Parents, Emerson Henry Kinnee and Edith Irene Kerr Kinnee, 3 siblings: Bethel, Lisle and Joy. Her husband Lorne Rikley, companion Edward Meredith, and grandson Joey Rikley.
Beryl was born March 16, 1928 and raised in New Westminster. She was the youngest daughter of 4 to Irene and Henry. Her father worked as a carpenter and shoe repair man and mother a homemaker. In her late teens, she worked as a baby nurse at Royal Columbian Hospital. At 20, she married Lorne Rikley, with whom she spent many happy years raising a family in Hammond and Maple Ridge. Here she lived until her late 80's. She was a terrific homemaker and mother to her 5 children, and in her 40's, she took a part-time home care job, caring for an elderly couple. Her last years were spent in Nanaimo, enjoying the ocean and being close to those who cared for her.
She loved to garden, was an avid knitter, made lovely crochet afghans and ceramic Christmas trees - (special handmade treasures we now hold dear). She would often visit her family and grandchildren in Abbotsford and Vancouver Island, and loved to travel internationally with her daughters. Some of our fondest memories with her were made on trips to Hawaii, Mexico, and cruises to Alaska and L.A.
Beryl always had a funny, sassy response when you least expected and her beautiful smile, warm laughter and cheeky humor will be remembered with affection.
A lifetime of memories we hold close to our hearts as we give thanks for her life and the legacy of love she leaves.
I Heard Your Voice In The Wind - Unknown
I heard your voice in the wind today
and I turned to see your face;
The warmth of the wind caressed me
as I stood silently in place.
I felt your touch in the sun today
as warmth filled the sky;
I closed my eyes for your embrace
and my spirit soared high.
I saw your eyes in the window pane
as I watched the falling rain;
It seemed as each raindrop fell
it quietly said your name.
I held you close in my heart today
it made me feel complete;
You may have died... but you are not gone
you will always be a part of me.