Penelope Spagnolo

SPAGNOLO, Penelope (née Straugheir) died suddenly at the age of 81 on January 23, 2018. She was a loving mother to Rebecca and Tabitha, adoring grandmother to Jacqueline and devoted wife to John who predeceased her in 2016. Born on May 10, 1936 in Middlesbrough, she was a beautiful storyteller, known to enthral friends and family with splendid tales of her extraordinary life, regaling us all about her adventures in Wales, Singapore, Egypt, Lebanon and at her beloved Tortington Park and Toft farm in England. In 1966, she finally settled in greater Vancouver where she spent most of her life and raised her family with the greatest care and affection. Once her children were old enough, she worked in the elementary school they attended and then at Simon Fraser University. She eventually rose to the position of Director of the Administrative and Professional Staff Association before retiring with John to West Vancouver. Ever the optimist and loyal to a fault, she will be remembered for her boundless love of life and those magnificent blue eyes. To know her truly was to love her and she will be forever missed. A memorial page can be found at the website of McKenzie Funeral Services (West Vancouver) (http://www.mckenziefuneralservices.com/). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).