July 26, 1927 – June 18, 2018

On the morning of Monday, June 18, 2018 at Hospice Home in Kamloops, BC, Bessie passed away peacefully at the age of 90 from lung cancer.

Born Elisabeth to parents Cornelius Hildebrand and Elizabeth Dyck on July 26, 1927 in Waldheim, a Mennonite colony near Cuauhtemoc in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. Her family moved to Gnadenthal, Manitoba in 1930. There were five girls named Elizabeth in grade one so her teacher provided a different nickname for each. She got Bessie which remained with her for life. Another move took the family to Matsqui, BC in 1946. Bessie graduated from Philip Sheffield High School in nearby Abbotsford in 1948. Afterwards she worked as a nurse’s aide at the Royal Columbian Hospital and as a clerk with Kelly Douglas. Bessie met John Farr through her sister Nellie. They fell in love and were married on July 5, 1952. They resided in Powell River where John was a teacher. Four children were born from 1953 to 1962. They moved to Kamloops in 1967 as a family of six when John took a new position in educational television.

Bessie dedicated her life to the care and well being of her family. In her day she loved to play golf. This included a hole-in-one on the sixth hole at the Kamloops Golf & Country Club in 1983 and teaching her youngest son the game. Bessie took up kick boxing in her mid-seventies. Her homes were infused with the healing aromas of essential oils. Other passions included choral singing, bridge, curling, and gardening.

Bessie is survived by her children Veb (Julie) of Magna Bay, Lisa (Tom) of Winlaw, Lori (Graham) of Comox, and Gary of Ashcroft; brothers Ben (Vivian) and Frank (Lynda) Hildebrand both of Kamloops; brothers in law Syd Profitt of Powell River and John Molnar of Abbotsford; sisters in law Vivian Hildebrand of Neepawa, Wilma Farr of Courtenay, and Daphne Donaldson of West Vancouver; grandchildren Skye-lea, Jamey, Jessica, Sahjia, and Theo; and great grandchildren Hisani, Desmon, Milo, Odessa, and Scarlett. She was predeceased by her husband John, brother Neil Hildebrand, sisters Kathi Molnar and Nellie Profitt, brothers in law Bob Donaldson and Dick Farr, and nephew Rob Profitt.

The family would like to thank all those that cared for Bessie after suffering a stroke in 2013. Most recently that assistance was provided with great compassion at Active Care together with We Care and IHA care aides.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 26 at 11:30 AM in the Dogwood Room of the North Shore Community Centre, 730 Cottonwood Avenue, in Kamloops with Mary Widmer officiating Memorial donations can gratefully be made to the Kamloops Hospice Association.

Condolences may be expressed at www.myalternatives.ca

• Date : 2018-06-18
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.