June 28, 1927 – January 6, 2025 

Early on the morning of January 6, 2025, our mother, grandmother, nana and great-grandmother passed from our arms and into our Dad’s. Small but mighty – she showed her quiet perseverance to the end. 

Mom was born 97 years ago in Vancouver to Alexander and Beatrice Pollock, an only child in the days of large families. Growing up and living through the Depression and the austerity of the Second World War instilled a lifelong attitude of making do and not investing money into ‘things’ but valuing people more. To the end, she was content with a single-tub kitchen sink and never had a dishwasher. The family and those that knew to listen have heard many stories of the garden that her mother kept on 38th Avenue in Vancouver. Its bounty fed their family and many others in need of a helping hand. Her mother also planted flowers in a nearby quarry to give it beauty in ugly times. Today we claim Queen Elizabeth Gardens as her idea! The photo above was taken on a visit to QE rose gardens in June 2024. 

During the war, Mom and her parents lived in a converted storefront at Knight and Kingsway as there were few rental homes available. Mom left school early and was basically running the office of a neighbouring realty at 16 years old; foreshadowing Mom’s working life in business and bookkeeping. She had amazing organizational skills. 

Moving with the first Woodward’s store on Vancouver Island, Mom met our Dad, John Chamberland in Port Alberni where they married in 1949. A city girl and a displaced Saskatchewan farm boy; what a life they led. Looking for work they went up North in 1951, spending the first winter living in a wood-sided utility trailer roofed with canvas like a covered wagon. Mom said she had to scrape the frost off the tarp before lighting the space heater or else it “rained”. It was the first of many trailer homes leading to the purchase of our family home in North Kamloops in 1966. 

The next decade had them following heavy construction jobs mainly in the North such as the Hart Highway and many others. Mom went everywhere Dad went as they waited and hoped for our arrival. James was born two weeks early in Pouce Coupe in 1960 while Dad was away in Saskatchewan. They settled in Kamloops in 1961, which was followed by Janet’s birth in 1964. Dad still worked away, but Mom was the rock at home raising us. 

Next was Mom’s career being a dedicated volunteer in many of her children’s activities. Never one to be in the forefront yet she was always the one getting things done. Scouting, ballet, baseball all had her helping hand. Mom also volunteered in our school libraries for many years, known to a generation as the “Overdue Lady” as she hunted down delinquent books. After our school days, Mom returned to work with our dad at their business, Rollies Truck & Tractor. 

Next came Mom’s biggest passion. As a founding member of the Kamloops Family History Society, she began to dig into our family tree; first by copious letters written across Canada and the UK, then by taking Cariboo College computer classes at age 60. After following a paper trail back 400 years to Champlain’s apothecary in Dad’s French lineage and many generations in England/Scotland in hers, she gave her time helping and teaching others to do the same. A large Canadian family tree hangs on the kitchen wall and attracts much attention. It has been shown in local schools and at the Kamloops Heritage Fair which Mom also helped establish. 

After retirement, Mom and Dad traveled all around North America in their motorhome. They, somehow, used to get to Saskatchewan via Texas when visiting Dad’s sister. Their itineraries were sprinkled generously with many graveyard and ice cream parlour visits across Canada. 

Mom lived in her own home of nearly 59 years, as she had wanted. She was fiercely independent, finding ways to adapt to her limitations and did not give in right through to the end. A month ago, Mom was still walking a kilometer with Janet around the neighbourhood. We (the family) are forever grateful to Mom’s neighbours, who went above and beyond, especially Denise and Dave, and Julie and Andrew for helping us support Mom and keep her safe. Care aide Joann and IH homecare staff were also pivotal in her care. 

The legacy of stories left by John and Elenore will be carried on through their loving family: son, James Chamberland with his family Heather, Nancy, Ian (Paula) and Zac (Heather); daughter Janet Tarasoff (Cecil) with her family Whitney, Mackenzie (Demetrius) and Logan. And one awesome great-grandson, Ben, who wants to say, “Grandma was the Best as she still had Grandpa’s fish shaped pillows hanging from the ceiling of the living room spinning in the drafts.” Elenore was predeceased by her husband, John. 

No service by request. A family remembrance to be held in the warm weather at Scotch Creek—a place of treasured memories. In honour of Elenore, please spend some time out for a walk and listening to each other’s memories and stories. 

You may offer a message of condolence at First Memorial Funeral Services Kamloops for the Chamberland family. 

• Date : 2025-01-06
• Location : Kamloops