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Obituary for Hillechien (Hilda) Davies:

It is with joy and sadness that we announce the passing of Hilda Davies on March 2, 2014. Joy we feel as we celebrate her going to those who have gone before: her husband Austin (“Deke”) Davies (1990); father & mother, Marten (1986) & Hilda Smook (1993); brother Kars Smook (1941). Sadness engulfs her family who will miss her warm and vivacious presence: her 2 daughters, Shirley (Terry Moon) of Trail and Marion Davies of Castlegar, her 2 sons, Ken of Alberta’s Peace River country, and Jim (Diane) of Kamloops; the grandchildren who adored her: Kyle Davies, Kasey Davies, Brett (Kristen) Davies, Ellen (Corey) Yaremko, Delaine (Dean) Lozeron, Dean (Sherry) Moon, Trevor Davies, Alison (Dwight) Davies-Coggins, Leah (Ryan) Tomlin, Clair Henrich, Ben (Tyanna) Henrich, plus 22 great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Hilda was born in Veendam, Holland, May 12, 1924. When the Canadian Army liberated the Netherlands, a plea was made for homes to billet Canadian soldiers. Austin Davies, thereby, met and fell in love with this beautiful “klein Hillie”, who spoke English very well. It took until May 1947 for this determined, courageous lady to secure passage from Sweden to New York City and follow the love of her life to Canada. They were married in Lethbridge & Austin brought her home to Trail where they lived and raised their 4 children, with 9 of those years being in Fruitvale. As both loved fishing and the beautiful Kootenays, they built a new home for their retirement in Nakusp, overlooking the lake. In 2000, Hilda moved to a new home/condo in the Lindmar Estates in Castlegar and finally in April 2013 moved to the Chateau Manor in Trail. She was very healthy and capable all her life, having been floor curling and attending her grandson’s wedding only 10 days before her stroke.

Besides being one of the most admirable wives, mother and homemaker ever, she did everything to perfection. She was a knitter, crotchetier second to none, she was a singer, curler, fisher, hockey fan, gardener, St. John Ambulance First Aid Instructor/judge, and money-manager! She loved God and going to church, where she always sang out.

Her smile was warm and mischievous as was her incredible sense of humour. She had a quiet strength throughout her life, first evidenced by her leaving all she knew and her large family in Holland to move to Canada as an engaged young lady. Her parents did follow 4 years later, so the Dutch culture and language were maintained with them, but oh, how proud she was of her Canadian Citizenship. She absolutely loved to travel, having gone to Holland twice, Hawaii 3 times, Mexico twice, Israel, Greece & Egypt, all the western U.S. and a highlight was the whole of eastern Canada when she was 80—she wanted to see her country and identify all the background scenes she saw on the news. As she aged so gracefully, she loved her sports and Jeopardy on TV, doing puzzles, floor curling in Castlegar, attending all church events and being with her growing family.

“Her children arise and call her blessed…Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all….Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeing, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised….Give her the reward she has earned.” (Proverbs 31)

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 8th at the Trail Alliance Church.

In lieu of flowers in memory of Hilda, gratefully appreciated would be donations to the Kootenay Boundary Regional Health Foundation, 1200 Hospital Bench, Trail, BC., V1R 4M1.

On line to KBRH Health Foundation.ca. Donations to KBRH – Family Rooms.



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