Ethel Ada Agnes Denniston

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Ethel, 96 years young, surrounded by loving family on July 31, 2022.

Ethel was born on March 16, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Alice and John Keeping, and lived briefly in Britain and southern Ontario, before growing up in Calgary, Alberta, with brothers, Cec and Ron. In 1947, she left for Victoria, and lived in the student residence while attending the Royal Jubilee Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1949. She then met and married her cherished husband Jim on March 18, 1950.

Ethel began her career at the Royal Jubilee Hospital immediately after graduation and was later promoted to Head Nurse on the 2nd South until her retirement.
She was a busy working mother, raising four active kids. An avid curler (1961 Charter Member of Esquimalt Curling Club), she also pursued golf, gardening, lawn bowling, and enjoyed parasailing, zip-lining, and hot air ballooning. Her keen interest in local history lead her to memberships in both the Victoria Historical Society and the Old Cemeteries Society. Ethel loved local theatre and was a long-time season ticket holder to the Chemainus Theatre, The Belfry, and St. Lukes.

Ethel loved to travel, especially to Hawaii, China, throughout Europe, and Northern California (San Francisco and Napa Valley). Ethel and Jim received the Certificate of Merit from the Red Cross on March 24, 1992 for their volunteer work. In 1989 they were instrumental in the creation of the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society and the expansion of the Canadian Red Cross Bone Marrow Donor Program. She received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal on November 8, 2002.

Ethel is predeceased by her beloved husband Jim (2003), sons Bruce (1989) and Drew (2005), and granddaughter Lisa (2014). She is survived by daughter Jan (Wayne) Trueman, son Ian (Michelle) Denniston, daughter-in-law Joanne (John), five grandchildren Jennifer, Sarah (Douglas), Kari (Tim), Krista (Dean), Matt (Mallory), and thirteen great-grandchildren, James (Robyn), Kaitlyn, Emma, Olivia, Griffin, Maerck, Haakon, Fletcher, Hendrik, Jadyn, Reese, Olivia, and one great-great-granddaughter Serena. Ethel is also survived by nieces Sue (John) Irish, Lindy (Keith) Bryant, and cousin Sue Prior.

Ethel’s legacy will live on through her loving family, the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Donor Program, and the ocean-access Denniston Park, in Esquimalt.

Special thanks to the residents and staff at the Renaissance, the doctors and nurses on S4 at Victoria General Hospital, and McCall Gardens.

A celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at the Esquimalt Rec Centre (527 Fraser Street) from 2:00-4:00 pm.

If you would like to honour Ethel’s memory, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the BC Cancer Clinic, Victoria (2419 Lee Avenue, Victoria BC, V8R 4S1).

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com