In Loving Memory (1930-2023) ~
It is with heavy hearts that we announce her passing at Peace Arch Memorial Hospital, in White Rock, B.C., on March 5th, at the age of 93.
Stephanie was born in Ukraine and came to Canada in 1930 as a baby with her parents and two older brothers. They were raised on a farm in Bowmanville, Ontario where she learned to love everything about nature: flowers, trees, animals, birds and just being outdoors.
She chose teaching as a career after graduating from McMaster University in 1953. After her marriage in 1957 she moved to British Columbia with her husband Ralph Tortorelli, who was a teacher and later a principal. Stephanie taught and then became a Librarian in the school systems in Mission, Quesnel, and Lillooet.
After retiring and moving to White Rock in the mid 70's Stephanie spent endless hours creating a beautiful floral garden at their home in Ocean Park. She loved the variety of birds who visited her birdfeeders and enjoyed canning and baking with the fresh fruits and vegetables from her garden. She also enjoyed making her own wine, was an excellent cook, and made the best apple pies!
Stephanie loved reading, gardening, bridge, sewing, crocheting, enjoyed drawing and painting as a way to express her love of nature. She painted in oils and watercolour, adding beautiful artwork to her journals to document her many trips abroad in her later years such as; a garden tour in England, an opera tour in Italy, a safari in Africa, as well as travel to Japan, China and a cruise around the tip of South America to the Galapagos Islands to mention a few.
Stephanie always had a very positive outlook on life, enjoyed her time spent with her friends and family and new people she met on her treasured adventures.
Stephanie enjoyed her retirement home at Westminster House and appreciated the caring staff and the opportunity to take part in the art classes, concerts, and all lovely activities the kind staff provided. Stephanie was very loved by all who met her and her time with each of us will be treasured always.
Predeceased by her husband Ralph Tortorelli, her mother and her father Ivan and Tacianna Bonk, and brothers Sam, (wife Anne) and Michael Bonk.
Stephanie will be fondly remembered by her sister-in-law, Pat Bonk, her nieces and nephew, their families, and the surviving members of the Tortorelli family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society of BC or BC Cancer Society.
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