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Noel Richardson Obituary


RICHARDSON, Noel Constance (December 21st, 1937 May 11th, 2011) Passed away peacefully at her home at Ravenhill Farm, with family at her side. Noel was born at St Joseph's Hospital in Comox, BC to Dorothy (Dolly) Eleanor Payne and Ted (ERG) Richardson the second of four children. She attended Comox Elementary and graduated from Courtenay High School, where her father had been principal, in 1955. Noel was proud to have been one of the few women to attend university in the 1950s, and she graduated from UBC with a degree in English Literature and British History in 1959, the same year that she married her first husband, John (Jack) Ronald Cameron. They moved to Victoria, where Noel and Jack's daughters Sarah and Jenny were born. Jack's academic career took them to Edmonton from 1965 to 1967, then to Calgary, where Noel earned her B.Ed. and worked as a school librarian. In 1978, Noel moved with her second husband, Andrew Yeoman, to Saanichton, BC, where they bought a ten-acre piece of land overlooking Mt Newton Valley and Brentwood Bay, which they turned into Ravenhill Herb Farm. Noel was an accomplished writer, publishing numerous cookbooks, magazine, and newspaper articles. Noel also taught cooking classes, both at the farm and in local kitchen stores, and, with Andrew, gave talks to local gardening clubs and she took an active role in the community beyond Ravenhill, serving on the Central Saanich Heritage Committee and the Central Saanich Police Board. Ravenhill Farm has been the heart of the community in the Mount Newton Valley, due to the generosity of Noel and Andrew, who opened their farm to the public on Sundays, hosted popular Christmas markets, held art shows and theatre productions, and welcomed people from all over the world. Noel is survived by her husband Andrew, who was her life's true passion and constant companion. It was family and friends that mattered most to Noel. Daughters Sarah Cameron, Jenny Cameron, and son-in law David Crone, and her sisters Judy Sacht, Jan Carroll, and brother Doug Richardson were a pivotal part of her life. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, Nina Saturna and Eli Saxon. She was a mentor and loving aunt to her nieces Kathy, Jane, Julia, and Sonia and her nephews Marc, Roger, Tim, and Arnie, as well as her great-nieces Nichelle and Eleanor, and great nephews Kyle, Nicholas, and Peter, and she had a close and loving relationship with her friend's daughter, Leslie. Cousins and their offspring Nancy, David, Glenda, Gerry, and Barb; Helen, Malcolm, Ki, Keith and Jeanne were dearly loved by Noel, who was a true family matriarch, holding together the many people with family celebrations, letters, emails, and long, satisfying phone calls. She will be deeply missed. A memorial and celebration of Noel's life will be held at St Stephen's Church Hall, 7921 St Stephen Road, Saanichton, on Saturday, May 28th at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Land Conservancy of BC. 626246
Published by The Times Colonist from May 14 to May 17, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Noel Richardson

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13 Entries

Adrien Brown

December 29, 2023

Today I was driving by the WIN store on Pandora and there was a parking spot and I felt drawn in. I went inside the store and there were a few books and right on top was the book Herbal celebrations cookbook by Noel Richardson and Jenny Cameron. They had both signed the book so it really is a treasure. Noel was in a woman´s group with me for a few years. I found a picture of us yesterday actually in my home all sitting on my Chesterfield. Please feel free to contact me if you´d like a copy of that photo. (Adrien Brown)

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Karen Ralph

May 6, 2012

Dear Sarah, Jenny and Andrew, last weekend I had a dinner party and used the Summer Wedding Lunch recipes from Herbal Celebrations Cookbook. Everything was delicious and we had a toast to Noel. I used all of her books, there are actually electric burner marks on the French Onion Soup With Thyme recipe, they went through three pages and set off the fire alarm. She is missed, but her spirit lives on!

Nancy Wilson

February 24, 2012

While I still re-read all of her books and use the many recipes and garden knowledge, I'm so satisfied to have finally seen her farm last Fall with puppies running around! A spirit in the air!

May 30, 2011

To Noel's Family & Friends,

Noel will be dearly missed. We remember Noel fondly as Ravenhill is featured in our FarmFolkCityFolk book and also hosted our first Feast of Fields in 1998.

Our thoughts are with you all at this time.
FarmFolkCityFolk Staff and Board

May 24, 2011

Dear Andrew, Jenny, Sarah and All,
Some experiences with some people remain in one's memory. Noel's warmth and gentle grace will remain in mine. I am all the richer for having known her. Blessings, Louise Rose

Diane Pearsall

May 17, 2011

Dear Sarah and Family,
My thoughts are with you during this time. Your mom was the best! I remember so many sleepovers in the Scarboro house and the crepe breakfasts that we shared. I loved everything about her...So many wonderful memories of your mom. She will be missed. Wishing you comfort.

Denise Korolyk

May 16, 2011

Dear Sarah, Jenny, Andrew, and Family,
Noel was an inspirational "Mom" to all of us teenage Sunalta girls because she embodied the qualities of strength, determination, independence, and kindness when we needed them the most!
Please accept my sympathy and keep her memory close to your hearts!!

Georgina Montgomery

May 16, 2011

Dear Andrew and all of Noel's grand family,
If laughing often and much, winning the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, and leaving the world a better place are measures of a life's success (to quote Emerson), then Noel excelled in every way. That "gusto" magic of hers will remain with everyone who had the good fortune to meet her.

Wishing you comfort in a trove of shared memories.

Love, Georgi(na), Lawrence and Naomi (Montgomery and Pitt)

janet tout

May 16, 2011

noel was a treasured friend. her passion for her friends and family was so inspiring. i shall never forget dancing in the barn at jenny's wedding. nor can i ever again eat pesto without thinking of her. love to andrew, sarah, jenny and family.

janet (thomson) tout

Christine Owen

May 16, 2011

Noel had such vitality - it is hard to imagine her gone. She was my mother's (Rosemary Owen, nee Bradley-Dyne) first cousin. I loved my many visits to Ravenhill Farm when I still lived on the Island. Noel filled me in on a great deal of Payne family history that I hadn't known. I wonder whether she ever wrote it all down, as she had hoped to do one day. But then, when would she have found the time?! Noel always had so much going on in her wonderfully full and rich life. I will miss her; she left far too soon.
My love and condolences to all Noel's family.

Shanda Lembcke

May 15, 2011

Noel was a woman who made me want to stand a little taller and share an idea or listen well. She inspired me to pay attention to the details and be aware of the simple and pure pleasures that surround me as I live my life on this Peninsula.
My thoughts are with you Andrew, Jenny, Sarah & family.

Julia Cole

May 15, 2011

Noel was the greatest aunt anyone could ask for, she was always wonderful to myself and my children and we will deeply miss her.Our deepest condolences to Andrew, Sarah and Jenny and the whole rest of our family . Love Julie, Dave, Nichelle and Kyle

Lorraine Bennington

May 14, 2011

Noel was an extraordinary, articulate, warm hearted friend who brought vibrancy and delight wherever she went. She was important to me, Tola and Ama and will be greatly missed.
Our deepest condolences go out to Andrew, Sarah and Jenny and to all those who have loved her and whose lives she has touched by her presence.

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Memorial Events
for Noel Richardson

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