Noel Constance Richardson

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