From Whispering Pines/Clinton IR #4 near Kamloops BC. At the age of 91, Violet passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday July 9, 2018 at Royal Inland Hospital
Vye was born on April 27, 1927 at Leon’s Creek on the Fraser River, near Clinton, BC.
She was daughter of Edward and Alice LeBourdais (Fletcher) of 8-Mile Clinton BC. She is predeceased by brothers: Joseph, Duke (Eugene), Sonny (Louie), Turner and Bradley LeBourdais.
Vye was the oldest of the infamous ‘Golden Girls’ with beloved sisters: Norah LeBourdais & Mary (Weetsie) Hewitt. She was mother of only son Richard LeBourdais (wife Orla LeBourdais). Vye was blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her beloved granddaughters: Sunny LeBourdais, Leslie LeBourdais, Jana Starr (LeBourdais). Her cherished great grandchildren: Gabriel Starr, Drew Starr, Branden Starr, Raven LeBourdais, & Taya LeBourdais
Raised at 8-Mile ranch near Clinton, Vye took care of her brothers and sisters, sewing masterpiece cowboy shirts for her brothers and stunning dresses for her sisters from scratch. Vye was a master cook, weaving her way from the Cariboo down to Vancouver, starting at the Clinton Hotel, the Bob Inn/Frontier Inn, the Gang Ranch & Empire Valley, and the Vancouver Hotel. In Vancouver, she earned social services certificate at the Vancouver Community College. She was known as a hard worker, be it as a cook, working at the sawmill at Savona, to her social work on the streets of Vancouver and later for her work for the Interior Indian Friendship Center in Kamloops.
Vye travelled the world and left a path of memories from Chile and Arizona with sisters Norah & Weetsie. The Golden Girls are synonymous with laughter and crazy stories including one where Vye smuggled car parts to Chile hidden in her luggage in the 1970’s. Vye’s growl will be remembered and respected by anyone who knew her and made both dogs and grown men shudder and run for cover. Growl aside, she touched many and will be dearly missed by all who had the good fortune to know her.
Vye’s Celebration of Life will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, July 13th in the Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Dr., with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation.