Valerie Isaac, (84), our beloved Wife, Mother, Sister, Grandmother, Aunt, Great-Aunt and Great-Great-Aunt passed away unexpectedly on Friday the 19th of July 2024 at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. She is survived by loving husband Peter, daughter Julie (Dan Hucal), son Mark (Justine), grand-daughters Hailey and Alexis, sisters Anne Elson and Jean Mosedale and their families.
Our lovely Valerie was born in Torquay, England in 1939 to Albert Ernest “Bert” and Marjorie Rosina Beazley. In 1962 she married her sweetheart Peter Isaac and for 62 years they remained dedicated to each other and their family. In 1963 adventure beckoned and they moved to South Africa where Valerie accepted a position with BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation) in their downtown Johannesburg office. Ready for their next adventure, they immigrated to Vancouver Canada in 1967 with their great joy ‘Julie’ in tow (at that time, just a baby). They initially settled in the West End, as many new immigrants do, and then moved to North Vancouver where they welcomed their lovingly anticipated son ‘Mark’ in 1969 and then they purchased their first home. At the time, this was quite an undertaking, prior to email, mobile phones, credit cards and all the modern conveniences. During their voyage by ship up the East Coast of Africa enroute to Europe, they met and befriended another couple heading to Vancouver. With no destination address or other means of communication to stay in touch, they fortuitously met in Stanley Park and continued the friendship.
Valerie was an Executive Secretary to a number of private and later, government institutions, and was with the Judges’ Chambers in Burnaby when she retired. She enjoyed walks around Deer Lake which was located close to her workplace. Valerie loved to travel with Peter, and they visited numerous countries and continents, with a special interest in Europe and was lucky to enjoy numerous family trips. They were joined on many of their vacations with Valerie’s much loved younger twin sisters from the UK; one of the highlights being a Villa rental in Spain for the extended family including sisters Anne and Jean. Despite being in different continents, they came to know and love each other’s families and circles of friendship. She was well-versed in the domestic arts: a seamstress, knitter and adventurous cook and providing a loving haven for her family. Valerie loved nature, especially birds, and the peaceful garden oasis they created in their home, a good read, or movie nights or late suppers with friends, and raucous board games especially with the lifelong friends who also immigrated to Canada after seeing Mark’s birth announcement in the local UK (Torquay) newspaper. Valerie enjoyed singing in choirs and was game for anything including camping with her family in a canvas tent in the early days, then graduating to son Mark’s well-equipped RV to continue the tradition; driving 4×4 Land Rovers in the B.C. backcountry; and with Peter, becoming involved in community theatre both on and off stage. They were founding members of the SMP Dramatic Society and through that, and involvement in North Van Community Players, they gained a beautiful group of friends.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Anglican church (which includes items from and familiar to the diaspora from St. Martin’s Anglican church (closed in 2022)), at 220 West 8th Street, North Vancouver, BC on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 11:00 am.
The service will also be streamed online https://www.stjohnnv.ca/events
