Mark Nelstrop

It is with profound sorrow, love, and gratitude for a life well lived, that we remember Mark William Nelstrop. With autumn colours outside his window, Mark died peacefully on October 26, 2022.

Mark journeyed life with gentle steps, leaving beautiful imprints on all paths he traveled. He lived life fully, with a twinkle in his eyes and love in his heart. He was ever present on his journey- whether it be riding his bicycle or engaging in conversation. Mark was a masterful listener. You always felt cared for in his presence. His hugs instantly comforted you. Kindness was found in his smiles and goodness in his gestures. He had a trademark zen that he brought to doing the dishes, sweeping the floor to accepting his cancer journey with equanimity. Mark touched us all with his positive, gracious, and humble way of being in this world. We are blessed to have known him.

Mark was born on August 28, 1962 in Bowden, England. Growing up, he spent time in Nebraska and San Juan, Puerto Rico. He attended Ackworth Boarding School in England as a young boy. In Ontario, his family lived in Streetsville and Georgetown where he attended Georgetown District Highschool. Mark attended Western University and University of Ottawa where he enjoyed playing varsity volleyball and earned a teaching degree. The mountains called and Mark headed west. In BC, Mark met his life partner Anita. They married in 2000, exchanged canoe paddles and ventured forth together in their canoe, on their bikes and in their orange VW.

Mark is predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Marie (Reilly) Nelstrop. Mark is lovingly remembered by his wife Anita, daughter Bella, sister Clare (Andrew) of Guelph, Ontario and extended family and friends across Canada and around the globe.

Mark cherished the bonds with his Aunty Val and Uncle Con in England and with his in-laws Ching and Emmy in Canada. He was grateful for their generosity and kindness to welcome him into their homes over the course of his life.

Mark was an adventurer. He was a free spirit who enjoyed venturing on the road less travelled. He rarely had an itinerary but there was always a jar of peanut butter in his backpack. Mark set out to collect experiences around the globe, visiting over 30 different countries. In his beloved VW named Namaste, Mark traveled with Anita and Asiadog on many wonderful adventures from BC to Newfoundland. He loved the perspective from his bicycle, cycling across Canada, through Death Valley, Nepal, Tasmania and New Zealand’s South Island. Wanting to learn flamenco, he packed his guitar and headed to Seville. Mark was a believer of ‘don’t wait’ and committed to taking a ‘pause’ every 5 years to live ‘outside the box.’ He loved the beauty and wonder of the natural world. He took delight to tend the garden and to feed the birds. He wrote haikus on hikes. He trekked in the Himalayas and the Andes. He watched the sunrise on the summit of Mount Kinabalu. He enjoyed the sunsets over the Salish Sea. He ziplined in Costa Rica and slid down a volcano in Nicaragua. He skipped stones and enjoyed hot river baths in Iceland. He rode camels and climbed date palms in Morocco. He entered the World Bellyboarding Championships in Cornwall. Mark believed in play, treading gently and writing postcards home.

Mark was an exemplary educator, mentor and coach for over 25 years in the Richmond School District. His love for languages led him to teaching French. His love for sport landed him in the gym. His humour and kindness were his trademark qualities. He educated not only minds but also hearts. He loved his Raven family at McNeill Secondary School.

Mark’s brain tumour may have stolen his words, but he continued to educate us. He taught us about acceptance and humility- to be content and comfortable in the silence and the spaces. He showed us how we can continue to live fully even in the face of death. He modeled how to walk life’s journey with grace and gratitude. Along the way, he reminded us to hold one another close, to always say I love you and of course, to dance.

Mark was an amazing father. He cherished his time with his daughter Bella. With his little girl, he read her bedtime stories, told dad jokes and pulled her in the Chariot behind his bicycle. He enjoyed quiet walks in the Japanese Gardens, lively games of disc golf and building bonfires beneath starry nights on Mayne Island. In the Watershed, they ran the trails and he listened to her dreams. There was always a volleyball on our world travels, father and daughter peppering on sandy stretches of beach, or while waiting for buses. Mark delighted in coaching Bella’s school volley team team and cheering her on in club. He was her biggest fan. How lucky we are that he grew her up.

We are so thankful for all those who travelled this challenging journey with us.

To the doctors and nurses at BC Cancer, for providing good care and treatment.

To Dr. Riesling and Dr. Turnbull, for practicing medicine with mind and heart.

To Elizabeth at MAiD, for your compassion in honouring Mark’s wishes.

To Emily at KORU, for practicing holistic death care.

To the Raven Family, for your kindness and empathy.

To my Night Travellers, for not being afraid of the dark.

To our incredible village of friends and family, for holding our space with unconditional love.

In Mark’s memory, let us carry forward the light of goodness that he lit in us all. Let his memory be a blessing and a reminder to live wholeheartedly. 

When you see the trees dancing, when a sunray finds your face, when a gentle breeze hugs your being, when tear drops shower down from the heavens, when you spot Alkaid in the night sky, when you hear the eagles cry, when a white swan greets you with open wings…

Take pause, with hand on heart, and know there is extraordinary beauty in the world.

Mark’s ashes will be returned to the Salish Sea this summer, where he loved to paddle his wedding canoe with his beloved BAM.

Our BAM Manifesto – Family Values to Guide Us On Life’s Journey was composed together on our last world travel in 2019. We dedicate this video with infinite love to the M in our BAM. We love you.