With heavy hearts we share the news of the passing of Frank Shelest..  Less than three months since the passing of his life’s love Alice, Frank joined her on February 23, 2020.

Dad was born in Poland near the Russian border on September 26, 1929.  As a baby of less than a year, with his parents he immigrated to Canada in May 1930.  Old country acquaintances drew them to cross the country and settle in Prince George.  Dad’s youth was spent in P.G., pursuing interests in the outdoors and school sports.  He graduated from Prince George Secondary, gaining experience in a few different professions he ultimately settled on teaching.  Frank attended Normal School at the University of Victoria and his career commenced in rural Prince George.  He married Alice in 1953 and after adding two children to the mix the family moved to Needles, finally settling in Chase in 1959.  Frank was committed to obtaining his degree in education and attended summer school almost every year, finally graduating with his degree the same year his daughter graduated from high school.  It was a long road but for him the perfect way to meet the obligations of his family and his work.

As the vice-principal of the one school in Chase, Dad watched the community grow and the school system change, moving to the high school as vice-principal when it opened. 

As a father he treated his children to a wide variety of family activities including hunting, fishing, photography, rock hounding, music and community service.  In 1967 he was a charter member of the Chase Lions Club.  It was an avenue for him to thank the community for the life he and his family were able to live.   He was very active in a number of community endeavours including the curling club, the health centre, Salute to the Sockeye, Lions Quest, the area rock club are a few that come to mind.  Frank received many awards including Chase Citizen of the Year, Chase Lion of the Year, Lifetime Lions Member and also the highest Lions International award, the Melvin Jones Lions Award.

Frank will be dearly missed by his children Sandy (Glenn) Vogstad of Kamloops, Rob (Sherree) of Princeton; his grandchildren Lee (Yuki) Vogstad, Tessa (Scott) Cooper, Jen Shelest, Nikki (Brad) Wutke; great-grandchildren, Lily, Dylan, Leland, Emily and Noah.  Frank was predeceased by his brother Bruno (Shirley) and survived by his siblings, Walter (Marilyn), Staffie (Fred), Mike and Fran.  Many nieces and nephews will remember his smile at the frequent family reunions.

The family would like to thank the staff of Kamloops Seniors Village and Royal Inland Hospital – 5S for their care and understanding of Dad’s needs.

A celebration of life will be held in Chase in late spring for both Frank and Alice.  They will be together for life. 

Memorial donations may be made to Chase Lions or the Heart & Stroke Foundation. 

Adam Wojciechowski of Kamloops, B.C., passed away on February 22, 2020 at 83 years of age. Survived by his loving wife, Beth, children; Jacquie (Lloyd) Schachtel, Tamara (Dean) Facchini, Michelle (Andrew) Watson and Donna Wojciechowski, step children Dean (Jocelyne) Steliga, Deanna Steliga, and Lyle (Chrystal) Steliga; grandchildren; Avery (Simon) Hoffmeister, Delaney Schachtel, Megan and Callie Watson, Jonas Facchini, Kristopher, Elizabeth, Devin, Haylee, Kevin and Kira Steliga; and great grandchildren; Daphne, Konnor and Freija. Survived by his sister Ann Yaholnitsky. Predeceased by; (brothers) Zig and Victor, (sisters) Bessie, Louise, Joey, and Alexandra.

Adam was born in Entwistle, Alberta, served three years in the Air Force, worked at the pulp mill in Hinton and then went to CANFOR Pulp Mill in Prince George. He retired to his acreage on Buckhorn Road in Prince George and from there moved to Lillooet. He finally settled in Kamloops in 2002. He loved sports and enjoyed golfing and curling and was a fan of the Kamloops Blazers – he had wanted to see them make the playoffs this year.

 A Memorial gathering for family and friends will be held at the Mt. Paul Golf Club, 615 Mt. Paul Way, Kamloops from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Saturday, March 7, 2020. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of choice.

Louise Rice of Kamloops, B.C. passed away peacefully on February 16, 2020, at 92 years of age.

Survived by her children Anthony Rice (Tricia Cook), Deirdre Rice and Daphne (Jeff) Willan, grandchildren Adam, Tara, Sean, Jamie, Liam and Christopher, sister Jean, and other relatives in Ireland. Predeceased in 2008 by her husband, Desmond Thomas Rice.

Louise was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she also completed her nursing training and obtained her midwifery certification. She then moved to London and worked as a flying squad midwife.   Later she moved to Malaysia to practice nursing, which is where she met and married Desmond. Louise and Desmond, with Anthony, immigrated to Canada in 1958.

Louise will be remembered for her love of the outdoors and nature; as an avid birdwatcher and hiker; a talented seamstress and pianist; a kind and caring Mother and Nana; as well as for her very witty sense of humor.

We extend special thanks to the caring and compassionate staff of Pacific 1, at Ridgeview Lodge.

In keeping with Louise’s wishes, no funeral service will be held.

Catharina Johanna Maria Bouwmeester, age 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep February 17, 2020. She was born March 16, 1927 in Aalsmeer, Netherlands to Jacobus Petrus Schijf and Barbara Cornelia Schijf (nee vanGeijlswijk). She married her longtime friend and love, Nicolaas Bouwmeester, on March 28, 1951 who preceded her in death in 2002.

Catharina and Nicolaas came to Canada with their two eldest children on the Groote Beer and landed in Halifax in 1954. They started their life in Canada in Picture Butte Alberta followed by Stavely, Raymond, Kamloops BC and finally settling in Monte Lake in 1966.

Family was very important to her. After years spent raising her own children, she was always happy to care for her many grandchildren as well.

Catharina was a very skilled seamstress and sewed many wedding gowns for friends and relatives. She also sewed or knitted nearly all her own children’s clothes while they were young. 

Catharina is survived by eight children and their spouses Pete and Denise Bouwmeester, Jack Bouwmeester, Engel and Audrey Bouwmeester, Barb Christoff, MaryAnn and Bruce Hyslop, Cathy and Graham Clarke, Ted and Lynn Bouwmeester, Elisabeth Harmon; her grandchildren Raquel, Caroline, Nikita, Corissa, Nicholas, Desiree, Michael, Faith, Hope, Jimmy, Rhonda, Peggy, Dustin, Joshua, Idrina, Melissa, Lisa and Cody; her great grandchildren Keenan, Kolbie, Corbin, Hudson, Claire, Allison, Harvey, Logan, James, Logan, Peyton, Declan, Harper, Elliott, Benjamin, Owen, Keplar, Grace and Lexus; her siblings Niek, Cor, Wim, and Co Schijf.

She was predeceased by her son Nicky Bouwmeester in 1961. Prayers will be recited Monday February 24^th at 7:00 pm in the Holy Family Parish, 2797 Sunset Dr. Kamloops. Funeral Mass on Tuesday February 25^th at 10:00 am with Father Fred Weisbeck Celebrant. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to charity of your choice.

July 31, 1933 – February 16, 2020

We are sad to say that Mary, our Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, Cousin, and Friend, left us behind on her journey through life. She is now at peace; God knocked on her door and called her home.

Mary leaves behind a family of five children, Lucille (Gary) Brigden, Ray (Annie) Demers, Colette (Tyler Murphy) Demers, Hubert (Marcella) Demers, Leonard Demers (Jessica), daughter-in-law Tracey Demers; 12 grandchildren, Leanna, Allen, Charlene, Stacey, Joel, Nicole, Damien, Katelyn, Gabrielle, Dominique, Aidan and Nathan; and 13 great grandchildren, Derek, Connor, Mason, Claire, Amelie, Joren, Harald, Madeleine, Parker, Charlotte, Catherine, Lydia, and Baby due the day Mom passed. We will all, along with her nieces and friends, miss her dearly. She touched our lives in many special ways. Mom was predeceased by her husband, Raymond Joseph, and her son, Marc Edward.

To Mom, her faith, sacraments, and prayers, especially the rosary, were very important. Most important though, was her family. We each carry her in our hearts and each have an abundance of memories to cherish. Mom was an avid quilter and made sure we all have a special, hand-made, sewn-with-love, quilt to remember her by.

Please join us to celebrate Mom at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 635 Tranquille Road. Prayers will be recited at 7:00 pm on Friday, February 21, 2020. The Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 22, 2020, with interment to follow at Hillside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary’s name to the B.C. Lung Association.