October 23, 1920 – November 13, 2022

Lillian Louise Yvonne Lancaster (Yvonne), née Chomat, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2022 at age 102 in Kamloops, BC. The daughter of Gertrude and Henry Chomat, a Canadian Pacific Railway agent, Yvonne was born in Nelson, BC on October 23, 1920 and spent her childhood living in multiple small towns across BC including Yale, Spences Bridge, Savona, Enderby, and Revelstoke.

Yvonne is survived by her four children, Roger Lancaster (Bunny), Robyn Lancaster, Kerry Barnhardt, and Kate Lancaster (Ted Hamilton), as well as seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

In 1941, Yvonne married Geoffrey Charles Lancaster (1917-1993) in Revelstoke, BC. They spent WWII on the Prairies where Geoff taught flying as a flight lieutenant in the RCAF and where their son Roger was born. After the war, they moved to Kamloops where the couple welcomed three daughters and raised their family. Yvonne remained in Kamloops until her death.

An intelligent and determined woman, in 1967 Yvonne went to the University of British Columbia for her degree in education. At that time, it was rare for a woman of age 47 to go to university, and she was hailed as a role model by the many younger women she supported and mentored. She eventually became an elementary school teacher in Kamloops, teaching for 17 years mostly at Ralph Bell Elementary School until her retirement.

A wonderful and loving mother, teacher, and friend to many, Yvonne was a true nurturing soul who dedicated her life to children: her own, her grandchildren, and the countless ones she helped shape both as a teacher and also through years of volunteer work in the community.

Yvonne had a creative spirit and impeccable taste, which she channeled into a passion for gardening, home décor, sewing, and the culinary arts. She loved nothing more than gathering friends and family around for delicious meals and stimulating conversation, and her skill and creativity in the garden were admired by many Kamloopsians. She proudly grew dazzling floral displays well into her late 80s.

Yvonne will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

The family wishes to extend deep gratitude to the wonderful staff at Kamloops Seniors Village who provided loving care to Yvonne over her final years. In lieu of flowers, the family asks anyone concerned with the state of our long-term care system in BC to advocate for improvements to working conditions and wages for care staff, and for better care and living conditions for residents.

You may express a message of condolence at Alternatives Funeral & Cremation.

• Date : 2022-11-13
• Location : Kamloops