April 1, 1943 - September 27, 2020
Elizabeth Grace Chambers (nee Landers) born April 1, 1943 in Bedwellty, Wales; died Sept. 27, 2020 in Dunster, B.C.
Elizabeth was born in Wales at the height of the Second World War. It was her Auntie Eileen, a district nurse, who inspired Elizabeth to pursue a career in nursing.
Elizabeth also dreamed of being a farmer.
In 1964 she graduated as a registered nurse and midwife from St. Helier Hospital in Surrey, England and with the exuberance of youth Elizabeth set sail for Canada. It was on the two week journey across the Atlantic Ocean that Elizabeth met and fell in love with Richard, a fellow Briton also seeking adventure and a new life.
Stints nursing in Ontario, the Yukon and British Columbia preceded their May 1970 marriage. Richard and Elizabeth settled on a 10-acre hobby farm in Ryder Lake. Together they farmed sheep, cows and horses. Two daughters in 1971 and 74 completed the family.
Elizabeth was a keen volunteer and advocate for youth in agriculture through the 4-H program.
She served as a leader of the Chilliwack 4-H Lamb Club for more than a decade, and worked with both district and provincial 4-H councils as well as leading youth on national and international exchanges. She also became involved in the swimming community acting as an executive member of the Chilliwack Spartan Swim Club.
She participated in swim exchanges and competitive events serving as a volunteer, organizer and chief booster for her girls and all the local swimmers.
When Richard retired, Elizabeth hung up all her hats and embarked on an entirely new adventure. They moved far from their Fraser Valley roots to a 350-acre property on the Fraser River in the Robson Valley. In Dunster, Elizabeth reinvigorated her purpose.
The farm was a work in progress and needed repairs to make it suitable for sheep. The two of them undertook building farm infrastructure, making, hauling and storing hay for their flock and shearing, deworming and lambing. It was a labour of love caring for their 200 woolies as Elizabeth called them.
Elizabeth also became an advocate for mental health and mental health supports in her rural community.
Her Alzheimer's diagnosis did not dampen her enthusiasm for life. She lovingly welcomed two grandchildren into the family. Elizabeth was irrepressible. She was kind, funny, effusive, creative, positive, and adventurous; she loved a contentious game of Scattergories, a good joke, great books and a challenging cross word puzzle.
She showed what it meant to grab every minute, to make the most of it and to help others along the way. We love you mom. We miss you.