Born in Flanders, Ontario, July 21, 1914 the daughter of Francis and Florence Porter, our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother Jo Kettle passed away at the Bradley Centre, Chilliwack General Hospital, early in the morning of June 7, 2007 with her family by her side.
Jo was predeceased by her best friend and husband Eric in 1979; her son-in-law Paul Gygax in 2005, with whom she had a special rapport; brothers (and devoted siblings) Finley, Ted and Fred Porter; and brother-in-law Ted Marfleet (who was like another brother).
Left to lovingly remember her are son Fred Kettle, Chilliwack, BC; daughters Kay Hyndman, Whitehorse, YT; Bev Kettle, Abbotsford, BC; Ellen Gygax, Chilliwack, BC; and Judy (Garry) Stewart; Sault St Marie, ON.
Special memories of grandma and great grandma are cherished by Pamela (Tavis) Cameron (& Connal) Fort St John, BC; Dean Kettle, Tracey Kettle (their children Joshua and Tyler) Chilliwack, BC; Kari (Willie) Arrell (Harley), Spruce Grove, AB; Greg Hyndman, Fort Nelson, BC; Jennifer (Perry) Sharp ( Melissa and Tucker), Timmins, ON; and Kristin Stewart & fiancé Joe Gilbertson (Sault St. Marie).
Also left with a lifetime of loving memories of Jo are her brother Bud (Stella) Porter, Chilliwack, BC; sister Dolly Marfleet, Maidstone, SK; dear friend and sister-in-law, Pauline Porter, Quebec; sisters-in-law Mary (John) Ormond, and Kaye Kettle, of Ontario.
Fondly remembering Aunt Jo will be her nieces and nephews in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and BC, as well as her many friends across Canada.
Mom loved to golf with Dad and Pauline and her brother Ted, and was an accomplished pianist, but didn’t like an audience. As she became less active she followed golf on TV, along with her other favorites, curling, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, and her game shows “Wheel” and Jeopardy. She graciously “skunked” her opponents at crib, helped everyone with their crosswords, and regularly won jackpots on TV bingo. She had a quick mind for words and numbers, and a terrific dry sense of humour.
Mom worked by dad’s side in businesses in Hope and Bella Bella, BC, and North Bay, Ontario. She retired after dad’s death in 1979, to spend time with family and friends.
We would like to thank the staff at the Bradley Centre for the comfort, care and friendship they extended to mom during the year and a half she resided there. Our sincerest gratitude for the professional yet personal palliative care given to ease mom’s discomfort in her last few days.
Prayers will be held Tuesday evening June 12th, 7 pm and a Mass of Christian Burial, 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 13th, at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 8909 Mary Street, Chilliwack, BC. Reception to follow at St. Mary’s Centre.
A grave side service will be held on the afternoon of June 13th, at the Royal Canadian Legion Cemetery, in Hope, BC; where she will be laid to rest beside her dear husband Eric.
If so desired, donations to the Bradley Centre would be gratefully accepted, or to a charity of choice.
Mom, we will mind our manners, and if we can’t say anything nice, we won’t say anything at all.