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BORN
October 04, 1926
DIED
February 03, 2015
Jean Stiven Obituary
In the early hours of a winter morning, February 3, 2015, Jean Stiven (Mom, Granny, Great Granny, Jean, 'the Honorable Niz'), followed a path only she could see and left us here to continue our stories. Would that ours be as interesting as hers...
Born in London, England in 1926, to Alec and Dorothy Nisbet (née Lupton), Jean grew up in Oxford with her brother, Angus. She was a quiet, studious child with a yen for adventure; an avid reader, she did well at school. She went on to receive a Masters Degree (Chemistry) from Oxford University (1947) and worked for a year as a research chemist. She enjoyed hiking, bicycling, Scottish country dancing and theatre. While at university Jean met and married David Stiven, a Forestry student from Scotland. Jean was embraced by the large, boisterous Stiven clan. In 1951, after the birth of their first child, Jean and David immigrated to Canada. David's work led them to Auden, Sioux Lookout, Shoal Lake and Arden before they decided to go overseas to work for the United Church of Canada. By this time 3 more children had arrived, David had taken three years of theological training in Winnipeg and had been ordained as a minister. Throughout, Jean had maintained the household in often challenging conditions.
In her new role as minister's wife, Jean accompanied the family on a circuitous route through Wisconsin, USA, by sea to Portugal and on to spend five interesting years in Ndola, Zambia (1961-1966) ...all this with four children in tow. Their fifth child was born in Ndola.
The family returned to Winnipeg for a year before spending two years in Kingston, Jamaica. There Jean taught at the local high school while the household expanded to include two Jamaican students, Pauline and Joan. Joan returned to Canada with the family and was officially adopted in 1972.
After Jamaica, the family spent another year in Winnipeg, where Jean took a job in a research laboratory at the University of Manitoba - a brief opportunity to apply her formal education.
In 1970 the family moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where, in addition to her family and church (Gordon United) roles, Jean became a Medical Office Assistant, a job she excelled at and thoroughly enjoyed. The early-mid 1980s were dark years for Jean, with the death of two daughters, and a divorce from David.
Jean retired in 1987 after meeting the second love of her life, Gordon Davidson, an electrical engineer and inventor, who respected her vast knowledge and experience, and adored her. Together they enjoyed many travels.
In 2013, after Gordon's death, Jean moved to Kaslo to live with her daughter, Fiona. Although she could no longer write, she loved reading, being outside, and watching the birds and passers-by; she loved flowers, marzipan bars, and ice cream; and she loved the visits she had from family and friends.
Her most remarkable gift to the family was her love of words... reading, letter-writing, storytelling, crosswords... She held the extended family together with her words... Almost without exception they were quiet, thoughtful words. Someone with this love of words would, of course, have had a motto. Hers was "Life is a Rich and Rewarding Adventure", and hers was.
Jean was pre-deceased by David, Gordon, Peggy, and Joan. Those who walked with her as far as possible are her children Moira McIlwain (Ray), Jim Stiven, Fiona Anderson (Peter Chomitz), Shelagh Cronkite (George); Pauline Beaumont, Anne Walli, Diana Davidson; Don Ilich; Betty Person; her grand-children Ken, Andrew, Heather, Ruth; Iain, Alastair; Meg, Tessa; Colin, Graham, Jill; Genevieve, Mackenzie, James. Her great grand children Lauren, Kara; Claire, Sam; Danika, Keighley, Marek; Ray; Amélie; Nova, Raleigh; Taryn, Owen; Deeken, Cedrick; the Stiven clan (especially Bob and Marlene); her brother, Angus Nisbet; and her lifelong friend, Dola Richardson.
And her words and wisdom will infuse our stories...
A memorial service will be held at Gordon United Church, 935 Goldstream Avenue, at 2:30pm, March 28, 2015.
Born in London, England in 1926, to Alec and Dorothy Nisbet (née Lupton), Jean grew up in Oxford with her brother, Angus. She was a quiet, studious child with a yen for adventure; an avid reader, she did well at school. She went on to receive a Masters Degree (Chemistry) from Oxford University (1947) and worked for a year as a research chemist. She enjoyed hiking, bicycling, Scottish country dancing and theatre. While at university Jean met and married David Stiven, a Forestry student from Scotland. Jean was embraced by the large, boisterous Stiven clan. In 1951, after the birth of their first child, Jean and David immigrated to Canada. David's work led them to Auden, Sioux Lookout, Shoal Lake and Arden before they decided to go overseas to work for the United Church of Canada. By this time 3 more children had arrived, David had taken three years of theological training in Winnipeg and had been ordained as a minister. Throughout, Jean had maintained the household in often challenging conditions.
In her new role as minister's wife, Jean accompanied the family on a circuitous route through Wisconsin, USA, by sea to Portugal and on to spend five interesting years in Ndola, Zambia (1961-1966) ...all this with four children in tow. Their fifth child was born in Ndola.
The family returned to Winnipeg for a year before spending two years in Kingston, Jamaica. There Jean taught at the local high school while the household expanded to include two Jamaican students, Pauline and Joan. Joan returned to Canada with the family and was officially adopted in 1972.
After Jamaica, the family spent another year in Winnipeg, where Jean took a job in a research laboratory at the University of Manitoba - a brief opportunity to apply her formal education.
In 1970 the family moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where, in addition to her family and church (Gordon United) roles, Jean became a Medical Office Assistant, a job she excelled at and thoroughly enjoyed. The early-mid 1980s were dark years for Jean, with the death of two daughters, and a divorce from David.
Jean retired in 1987 after meeting the second love of her life, Gordon Davidson, an electrical engineer and inventor, who respected her vast knowledge and experience, and adored her. Together they enjoyed many travels.
In 2013, after Gordon's death, Jean moved to Kaslo to live with her daughter, Fiona. Although she could no longer write, she loved reading, being outside, and watching the birds and passers-by; she loved flowers, marzipan bars, and ice cream; and she loved the visits she had from family and friends.
Her most remarkable gift to the family was her love of words... reading, letter-writing, storytelling, crosswords... She held the extended family together with her words... Almost without exception they were quiet, thoughtful words. Someone with this love of words would, of course, have had a motto. Hers was "Life is a Rich and Rewarding Adventure", and hers was.
Jean was pre-deceased by David, Gordon, Peggy, and Joan. Those who walked with her as far as possible are her children Moira McIlwain (Ray), Jim Stiven, Fiona Anderson (Peter Chomitz), Shelagh Cronkite (George); Pauline Beaumont, Anne Walli, Diana Davidson; Don Ilich; Betty Person; her grand-children Ken, Andrew, Heather, Ruth; Iain, Alastair; Meg, Tessa; Colin, Graham, Jill; Genevieve, Mackenzie, James. Her great grand children Lauren, Kara; Claire, Sam; Danika, Keighley, Marek; Ray; Amélie; Nova, Raleigh; Taryn, Owen; Deeken, Cedrick; the Stiven clan (especially Bob and Marlene); her brother, Angus Nisbet; and her lifelong friend, Dola Richardson.
And her words and wisdom will infuse our stories...
A memorial service will be held at Gordon United Church, 935 Goldstream Avenue, at 2:30pm, March 28, 2015.
Published by The Times Colonist from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16, 2015.
Memories and Condolences
for Jean Stiven
1 Entry
Susan & Rob Gage
February 27, 2015
Jean always added a note of mindfulness, of careful thinking, of real wisdom, to any discussion. To say nothing of warmth and humour. She seemed to take everything -- including sometimes very difficult circumstances -- in her stride. Hers was truly a life well lived.
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