Candy was born on April 25th, 1947 in Edmonton, Alberta, the second child born to Barney and Lydia French. After a quick and sudden dance with cancer, she passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at her home in Vernon, B.C. on January 7th, 2022.
After Candy's birth her family moved to the Lower Mainland of B.C. where she grew up as a kind, happy child who loved playing in the sand bars with her siblings.
She and her adoring husband Lloyd met in Mica Creek in 1965 while working on the Columbia River Dam. They had a whirlwind romance and were married in 1967. From day one, they were a terrific team. For several years they built many houses in the Okanagan. After Lloyd's accident in 1974, which rendered him a quadriplegic, they started Okanagan Medical. This met a pressing need and helped countless people across the province. There was nothing they wouldn't do for the people that needed them.
Candy never really retired; working on many adventures and businesses together with her husband over the years. They considered their greatest adventure to be their grandkids. A caring woman with great attention to the details and trials of everyday life, intently attuned to people's needs; she loved those around her much like she tended to her beautiful garden - watering with prayers, guidance and presence.
Candy loved to pray and if you knew her in any way, she will have prayed for you as well. It is impossible to fit on one page all that she was to each of us. Every day we get with our loved ones is something to be treasured.
Candy is lovingly remembered by so many people who held her dear, including her husband Lloyd, to whom she was married for 54 1/2 years; her siblings, Bonnie (Ralph) Telep, Lynn (Jim) Hampton, Bud (Heather) French and Bob (Mollie) French; her step-daughter, Cheryl (Les) Poulin; step-son, Miles (Tammy) Fry; her daughter, Tammy (Lee) Wilson; fourteen grandchildren, Chris Poulin, Geoff Poulin, Abbie Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Thomas Wilson, Josh Fry, Hannah Edwards, Serah Wilson, Jacob Wilson, Maggie Wilson, Caleb Wilson, Mercy Wilson, Selah Wilson and Benny Wilson; eight great-grandchildren, Davyda Bedard, Brody Poulin, Vi Poulin, Jared Poulin, Mae Poulin, Florence Clynshaw-Wilson, Remy Wilson and baby Edwards on the way.
We are assured that Candy was so thrilled to see her loved ones and friends who went before her to Heaven and experience the peace and wholeness she knew would surround her there.
In respecting Candy's wishes, she was cremated and a celebration of her life will be held in the summer at her and Lloyd's home when all the family are able to gather. It would be Candy's desire that instead of sending flowers, you would give donations to the next unhomed person you see, just as she loved to do.
Expressions of sympathy and kind memories are always lovely to read and can be sent to Lloyd, Tammy, or Abbie at lloyd_fry@telus.net
Cremation arrangements were made with Bethel Funeral Chapel Ltd.,
5605-27th Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 8Z5 250-542-1187
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