(1945 - 2008)
Jean A. Waal (nee Yakelashek), a well-known and respected Notary Public in Chilliwack, B.C., passed away suddenly at her holiday home in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, on Thursday, February 28, 2008.
Born and raised on a farm near Minitonas, Manitoba, Jean married Roy Waal (Winnipeg) on May 22, 1965.
Jean will be deeply missed by her husband, Roy; children:Sherrie Torok (Franco) and Bradley (Heather); grandchildren: Jordan, Sydney, Kendall and Ireland; mother: Olga Yakelashek; brothers: Ben (Gail), Mike (Pat) and Garry (Shelley); sister: Carroll Nelson (Greg); as well as many nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws and friends.
Jean was predeceased by her father, Walter, her sister-in-law, Lia (Mike) and brother-in-law Fred (Jean).
Following completion of her post-secondary education in Winnipeg, Jean started her career working with Ducks Unlimited. When she moved to B.C. in 1967, she worked within the legal industry in Vancouver before moving to Chilliwack, where she worked for many years with McGaw Empress Insurance Agencies. She was commissioned as a Notary in June 1988 and initially went into partnership with Gerry McGaw.
Jean founded her own business, Waal & Co., in 1990, and was soon joined in partnership by her son, Bradley. Waal & Co. Notaries Public is a leading notary business in Chilliwack and Agassiz, B.C.
Jean was actively involved in the business community, a member of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack, a dedicated volunteer and a generous contributor to many non-profit causes.
For many years Jean was a competitive and accomplished curler and only recently gave that sport up as she spent more time with Roy and many friends in Mexico during the winter months.
She was an avid golfer and was a member at the Chilliwack Golf and Country Club.
She loved to spend time with her family skiing at Hemlock Valley.
A vibrant, hard-working, caring woman with a tremendous zest for life, a perfectionist and classic over-achiever, Jean was most in her element in her role as a mother and grandmother. To Jean, her best day was a day spent doing any one of a hundred things with one or all of her grandchildren, whether it was taking Jordan swimming, Sydney to dance classes, picking Kendall up from school or making perogies with Ireland.
A gourmet cook. A seasoned traveller. An accomplished business woman. A caring daughter and sister. A fabulous friend to many. A loving wife. A wonderful mother. A very special grandmother. A great lady. Jean can never be replaced.
A private family Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
A Memorial Tea in Jean’s honour will be held between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., Thursday, March 6, 2008 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Hall, 8909 Mary Street, Chilliwack.
If family or friends do desire, donations may be made to the Rotary Foundation c/o The Chilliwack Rotary Club.
“We Love You Mom”
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