Jean Irvine LEMPRIERE

1932 - 2021

LEMPRIERE, Jean Irvine (Nee Stewart) August 27, 1932 - February 28, 2021 Jean passed away peacefully at home in North Vancouver with her family by her side. She leaves her loving husband of 67 years, John, and children Julie, Christine (Shane), Shirley (David), and David (Tanja), her six grandchildren, Jordan (Jolene) and Bryan (Ashley) Babcock; Nicole; and Trevor (Megan) McMorran; Nathan Overgaard and Ciana Lempriere and four great grandchildren, Brohmley and Everly Babcock, Armillary (Millie) McCallum and Aurora (Rory) McMorran. Her passing was the result of complications from her bouts with breast cancer. Jean was born on Thornaby Green, Thornaby-on-Tees, UK in 1932. She was the daughter of Duncan and Helen (nee Smith) Stewart of Thornaby Green. She attended Arthur Head and Robert Atkinson schools in Thornaby. At the age of 14, she entered the Comptometer school in Middlesbrough, gaining her diploma in 1948. She was employed by the engineering firm of Ashmore, Benson and Pease of Stockton-on-Tees for 6 years. In 1949, Jean met John on her 17th birthday and they soon became very close. They bought a tandem and for many years they cycled many miles in the Cleveland Hills and some of the Yorkshire Dales. John and Jean were married at St. Paul's Parish Church, Thornaby-on-Tees on July 3, 1954, and their first daughter, Julie, was born in 1956. John completed his HNC in structural engineering, and in 1957, the family immigrated to Montreal, Canada. Daughters Christine (1959) and Shirley (1961) were born whilst living in Montreal. After 4 years of the Montreal climate and difficulty adjusting to the culture, the family returned to the UK in 1961. John obtained a position with the Power Gas Corporation (an affiliate of ABP) in Stockton-on-Tees. They bought a house in Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees where David was born. Jean soon missed some of the perks of Canadian living - home deliveries of prescription medication, a centrally heated house, and a car to get about with 4 children (using the bus with 4 youngsters was a hassle) and it was not long before they chose to make Canada their home. They immigrated to Vancouver in 1964. There was a snag with the airline (an immigrant special flight would not accept Christine and Shirley as immigrants, as they were born in Canada). After some discussion, as they were underage, they were British subjects, the nationality of their father and that it was unacceptable to require children to travel to Canada unaccompanied by an adult. The matter was settled by paying $50.00, the difference in airfares. After arriving in Vancouver, they lived for 2 years in a townhouse in North Vancouver and Jean became good friends with some of the other residents. While in the townhouse, an ex-workmate from the mine at Power Gas, Peter and Joan Thompson, and family, also immigrated to Vancouver and a long term friendship ensued. Another friend from the past who immigrated to Montreal were Barry and Audrey Skeldon from Thornaby. John and Barry both worked for Head Wrightson Engineers but in different offices, but contact was through an inter-office swim meet. They met again when the Skeldons moved to Vancouver. They bought a house on Winona Ave, North Vancouver where they lived for 40 odd years and the children were schooled at Canyon Heights Elementary and Handsworth Secondary schools. After the children were of a suitable age, Jean felt that she would like to find another diversion and became an assistant at the North Vancouver Public Library, where she was employed for 20 years. After John retired in 1995, and caring for the house on Winona Ave became onerous, John and Jean moved into a two-bedroom condominium (flat for our English relatives) in the Seymour area of North Vancouver. Jean's cousins, Roxie, Stuart and Elaine, Martin and Donna, and Marion and Blake all lived in Vancouver and became very important people in her life. Jean also cared very much for her nephew, Ian (Sharon) and niece Fiona (Andrew) in England and her many UK and Scottish cousins. After settling in Winona Ave, they became members of St. Martin's Anglican Church in North Vancouver and Jean joined the Women's Guild and became an enthusiastic quilter coached by her friend, Margaret Pate. She lived a full and happy life and enjoyed holidays to the UK to visit her relatives there. Jean had a number of places that were her favourite visiting places. She loved the beaches of Jersey and Saltburn, the villages of Staithes and Egton, Tickhill (home of Uncle Bill and Auntie Flo) and Farnborough (home of Barry and Edna) and Whidby Abbey. She was very grateful to have Dr. Hannah Surgenor as her family physician and she was thankful to all the caregivers from the Vancouver Coastal Health service and the home nurses from the palliative care unit who were so kind and considerate of her needs and also to the doctors and nurses at Lions Gate Hospital. Jean will be laid to rest at the Boal Chapel Memorial Gardens, in the rose garden, in North Vancouver. Due to Covid restrictions, a memorial service will be held at a date to be announced. Flowers are gratefully declined, in favour of donations to Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. Jean, may you rest in peace knowing that you were our inspiration and that you will be dearly missed by all who loved you.