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Jan Shand Obituary
Jan Eleanor Shand (nee Smith)
April 24, 1941 - March 6, 2014
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Jan Eleanor Shand on March 6, 2014 after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer. Jan is lovingly remembered by her best friend and husband of 45 years, Peter, brother Allen (Carole), daughter Heather (Arlin), and grandsons Benjamin and Nicholas. Her son, Cameron, predeceased her.
Jan was born in Montreal in 1941 and moved to BC with her family at an early age. She was always very proud of her Quebec roots, which was a source of good-natured ribbing through the years. Her school years were spent in New Westminster and she graduated from Lester B Pearson High School. Gifted with a compassionate nature, a career in nursing was a natural calling. She entered training at the Royal Columbian Nursing School in 1959, where many lifelong friendships were formed with her classmates of 62B.
In 1967, she met a young Scots engineer who was passing through BC on a round-the-world trip, which was permanently placed on hold after they met. Jan and Peter were married in 1968, and in 1971 work took them to Quesnel where daughter Heather was born. In 1972 they moved to Kamloops where son Cameron was born in 1974. The family was devastated but grew stronger after the loss of Cameron in 1978 while living in Belize, and returned to Kamloops in 1984 after four years in Prince George.
Jan spent many happier times as one of the first members of the Aberdeen Links Golf Club, where she organized Ladies Day and won the first Aberdeen Open after breaking 100 for the first time. She also spent a great deal of time at Rivershore playing bridge, which she had learned while in Belize. She enjoyed a wide circle of friends through these activities and from clients of her "Jan's Creative Custom Sewing" home business, the majority of which became lasting friends. Her volunteer work with the early Y Women's Emergency Shelter was a natural extension of her passion for helping others, as was her canvassing work for the BC Cancer Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation over the years.
Jan was utterly devoted to her family and friends. She left the nursing profession upon becoming a mother to concentrate fully on her young family. She took great joy in creating a thriving household filled with music, laughter and love. In later life, her grandsons Benjamin and Nicholas became her greatest joy, and she loved nothing more than spending time with them reading books, answering their many questions and passing her knowledge and unconditional love on to "her boys".
Unfortunately, these wonderful relationships now change after a valiant eight-year battle with cancer. Throughout this time Jan remained steadfastly optimistic and determined to fight, and did not allow her daunting prognosis to diminish her positivity, generosity, kindness and empathy. Through conversations with her many friends over these final weeks, it has become clear that her strength and spirit became an absolute inspiration in the many lives she touched.
We would like to thank Dr. O'Connell, Dr. Weibrick, Dr. Leia-Stephen, Dr. Proctor and the staff of the Kamloops Cancer Clinic, for their exceptional care along this journey. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice House or to BC Cancer Research Centre in Jan's name are respectfully requested. A celebration of Jan's life will be held later on this Spring, date to be announced.
Farewell to you my Chicks, soon you must fly alone
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
May your wings be strong, may your days be long, safe
Be your journey
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth
Never lose sight of the thrill
And the Joy of Living
Ewan MacColl - Joy Of Living, Verse 3
April 24, 1941 - March 6, 2014
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Jan Eleanor Shand on March 6, 2014 after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer. Jan is lovingly remembered by her best friend and husband of 45 years, Peter, brother Allen (Carole), daughter Heather (Arlin), and grandsons Benjamin and Nicholas. Her son, Cameron, predeceased her.
Jan was born in Montreal in 1941 and moved to BC with her family at an early age. She was always very proud of her Quebec roots, which was a source of good-natured ribbing through the years. Her school years were spent in New Westminster and she graduated from Lester B Pearson High School. Gifted with a compassionate nature, a career in nursing was a natural calling. She entered training at the Royal Columbian Nursing School in 1959, where many lifelong friendships were formed with her classmates of 62B.
In 1967, she met a young Scots engineer who was passing through BC on a round-the-world trip, which was permanently placed on hold after they met. Jan and Peter were married in 1968, and in 1971 work took them to Quesnel where daughter Heather was born. In 1972 they moved to Kamloops where son Cameron was born in 1974. The family was devastated but grew stronger after the loss of Cameron in 1978 while living in Belize, and returned to Kamloops in 1984 after four years in Prince George.
Jan spent many happier times as one of the first members of the Aberdeen Links Golf Club, where she organized Ladies Day and won the first Aberdeen Open after breaking 100 for the first time. She also spent a great deal of time at Rivershore playing bridge, which she had learned while in Belize. She enjoyed a wide circle of friends through these activities and from clients of her "Jan's Creative Custom Sewing" home business, the majority of which became lasting friends. Her volunteer work with the early Y Women's Emergency Shelter was a natural extension of her passion for helping others, as was her canvassing work for the BC Cancer Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation over the years.
Jan was utterly devoted to her family and friends. She left the nursing profession upon becoming a mother to concentrate fully on her young family. She took great joy in creating a thriving household filled with music, laughter and love. In later life, her grandsons Benjamin and Nicholas became her greatest joy, and she loved nothing more than spending time with them reading books, answering their many questions and passing her knowledge and unconditional love on to "her boys".
Unfortunately, these wonderful relationships now change after a valiant eight-year battle with cancer. Throughout this time Jan remained steadfastly optimistic and determined to fight, and did not allow her daunting prognosis to diminish her positivity, generosity, kindness and empathy. Through conversations with her many friends over these final weeks, it has become clear that her strength and spirit became an absolute inspiration in the many lives she touched.
We would like to thank Dr. O'Connell, Dr. Weibrick, Dr. Leia-Stephen, Dr. Proctor and the staff of the Kamloops Cancer Clinic, for their exceptional care along this journey. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice House or to BC Cancer Research Centre in Jan's name are respectfully requested. A celebration of Jan's life will be held later on this Spring, date to be announced.
Farewell to you my Chicks, soon you must fly alone
Flesh of my flesh, my future life, bone of my bone
May your wings be strong, may your days be long, safe
Be your journey
Each of you bears inside of you the gift of love
May it bring you light and warmth and the pleasure of giving
Eagerly savour each new day and the taste of its mouth
Never lose sight of the thrill
And the Joy of Living
Ewan MacColl - Joy Of Living, Verse 3
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Published by Kamloops This Week on Mar. 10, 2014.