March 18, 1928 - March 26, 2024
Beryl passed away peacefully on March 26, 2024 at May's Place hospice in Vancouver with her daughter Sandra by her side, just days after celebrating her 96th birthday.
Born in Woodrow, Saskatchewan, Beryl was the only child of Isabel Johnston of Bayfield, ON and Edwin A. Welch of Glassville, NB who met when they were both teaching in Gray, SK. The family lived in several rural Saskatchewan communities, including Beryl's favourite, Yellowgrass before settling in Saskatoon where Beryl attended Nutana Collegiate and the University of Saskatchewan.
After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in 1950, Beryl began a career as a lab technician, working several years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison researching cardiac catheterization.
Returning to Saskatoon, Beryl worked at U of S hospital until 1958, when she moved west to Vancouver where she was proud to work in biochemistry research at UBC with Dr. S. H. Zbarsky until the birth of her younger daughter Sandra.
Living steps from Kitsilano beach, Beryl and her single friends enjoyed all that the west coast has to offer. It was during one group outing, aboard a chartered sightseeing boat, that she met John, the ship's young skipper from Lossiemouth, Scotland.
Beryl and John married 6 months later, in December 1960, experiencing duplex life for 5 years before moving to a house in the Dunbar neighbourhood to raise their two daughters. After 30 years in Dunbar, Beryl and John moved to South Surrey where they thrived at Bishop's Green and connected with the local community. In 2022, Beryl was pleased to move to Shannon Oaks to be closer to Sandra and family.
Beryl was known for her active involvement throughout her life, including taking leadership and volunteer roles with CGIT, Dunbar United Church, Bishop's Green, Mann Park Lawn Bowling Club, Marpole Curling Club, and she was especially honoured to serve as President of the BC Ladies Curling Association 1988-89.
A passion for fashion led Beryl to a second career and part-time job in ladies wear at Woodward's Oakridge, from 1975 until the birth of her first grandchild in 1991. Beryl relished her role as Grammie, making the drive from Vancouver to Surrey weekly to care for Madeline, and later making the reverse trip from Surrey to Vancouver to care for Parker and Meghan.
Predeceased by her parents, Isabel and Edwin A. Welch, husband John Stewart, and daughter Janet Jensen, Beryl is survived by her daughter Sandra (Dave), grandchildren Madeline Jensen and Parker and Meghan Papineau, great-niece Lesley Adendorff (Mike), and by extended family and countless friends.
A celebration to honour Beryl's life will be held on May 4 at 1:30pm at Shannon Oaks, 2526 Waverley Ave, Vancouver.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Kidney Foundation of Canada or the BC Hospice Palliative Care Association.
Service Details
1:30 PM