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Irene Beryl FREDRICKSON

January 8, 2010

(nee Murray)

The family of Irene Beryl Fredrickson regrets to announce her passing, at the age of 87, on Friday, January 8, 2010 in Fraser Canyon Hospital, Hope B.C. after a long battle with emphysema.

Born in Melita, Manitoba on March 2, 1922 to Elizabeth and Allan Murray, Beryl attended school in Melita, Manitoba and went on to graduate from Teachers College, in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1942.

Beryl’s sense of adventure lead her to B.C. where she began her teaching career in 1946 at a one room school in Flood, B.C. Beryl then moved to Gravel Ferry, B.C. in 1947 to teach in another one room school where this prairie girl had to cross the mighty Fraser River by rowboat on a daily basis to reach the school. At the end of the school year in 1947 she returned to Flood where she had met her future husband Bill. Some of Beryl’s students from the Flood School still reside in the Flood/Hope/Fraser Valley area.

Beryl was married to William (Bill) Fredrickson on July 15, 1947 at Hope B.C., and became step-mom to Bill’s daughter, Florence. Daughter, Anita Lynn was born in Chilliwack B.C., on October 9, 1948.

Beryl and her husband Bill built three homes and owned numerous rental properties in the community when Beryl wore her landlady hat.

Beryl pursued many careers (wore many career hats) during her lifetime in Hope, BC, the first being a teacher, moving on to dental assistant to Dr Bill Ferguson, receptionist/assistant to Dr’s Gerd and Ursula Asche, receptionist/assistant at Public Health Department with Public Health Nurses Marg Hutton, Leola Karr (Niven) and Willie Beloo, once again a teacher, at Hope Secondary School, Grade 7, home room teacher to daughter Lynn, teller at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Head of Program Development for the Hope Branch of Fraser Valley College for 12 plus years, and up until 2005 she was a Seniors’ councillor; at this point, at the age of 83, she decided to finally retire.

Beryl was an active member in the community most notably as an advocate to get the Fraser Canyon Hospital built in Hope and then was on the Board of Directors after it was built. She has been a member of the Fraser Canyon Hospital Auxiliary for 35 years. Beryl was also active in the Arts and Crafts community in Hope.

Beryl was honoured with the Hope, Woman of the Year Award, for her service to the community of Hope.

Beryl loved to travel she would pack her suitcase in a minute. She visited Great Britain, the Orient, Hawaii and she enjoyed numerous cruises with her sister-in-law, Joy Murray. She travelled extensively in Canada and the United States and her biggest travel regrets were not to have visited the Arctic and taken an African Safari.

Beryl was full of fun and could put together the appropriate costume for any occasion and there were many over the years. Beryl had a great vision about her life, and she worked hard but always made time for her family and friends. Beryl was a mom, a mentor, a teacher, a friend, a confident. She was also a seamstress and a fabulous cook. Beryl was the rock of sound judgement, practicality and common sense. She modelled strength in the face of adversity. She exhibited a strong sense of self and encouraged those around her to do the same.

Beryl is survived by her step-daughter Florence Lauzon (Albert) of Kamloops B.C., and daughter Lynn Carmichael (Ken) of Ottawa, Ont. Grandchildren Donald Lauzon (Rosie), Leonard Lauzon (Debbie), Catherine Hoot (Paul), Colleen Ingram (Mike), Brian Lauzon (Allison); great-grandchildren Jackie, Jonathan, Jamie, Dana, Tracy, Daryl, Lori, Sterling, Samantha, Kyle, Joselyne and great-great-grandchildren Nicholas, Damon, and new baby girl on Jan 2, 2010. Brother Douglas Murray (Joy), nieces Linda Murray and Sandra Murray (Len Gurski) and numerous nieces and nephews on the Fredrickson side of the family.

Beryl was predeceased by her parents Elizabeth and Allan Murray and her husband Bill.

There will be no funeral service as Beryl has donated her body to The University of British Columbia. A celebration of Beryl’s life will be held on March 13, 2010, at Hope, B.C. at the Eagles Hall at 2 pm. For further information please contact Lynn Carmichael, Ottawa, Ontario, at 613-233-7103, or by email: alynncarmichael@rogers.com.

Memorial donations to the British Columbia Lung Association or Canadian Diabetes Association would be greatly appreciated.

A heartfelt thank you to all of Beryl’s family, friends, neighbours and work associates who enriched her life during her lifetime and a special thank you to those who supported Beryl during the last month in hospital, Dr. Vera Niryanda, the nurses and medical staff at Fraser Canyon Hospital, the ambulance drivers who gave her a lift when she needed one, her brother Doug, Barbara Moeller, Chek Yano and all the other friends and family who visited her at the hospital.

Beryl was an inspiration to all who knew her.



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