Colleen passed away in Vernon, BC on March 4, 2020 at 91 years of age. Colleen was born in Edmonton, Alberta, where she lived, and met her husband-to-be, Gordon, in grade 9. Colleen's life passion was to be a Registered Nurse, which she achieved in September 1951. She was the "Class Valedictorian" and the "Gold Medal for General Proficiency" winner. Colleen was married to Gordon for 68 years. They have four children (Brenda, Dave, Karen and Wayne), 9 grandchildren (Peter, Christopher), Barbara, Jonathan, Kaitlyn, Geoffrey, Matthew, Sarah and Freya), 11 great grandchildren (Marley, Jack, Oliver, Summer, Harrison, Paisley, Matthew, Ryan, Samuel, Emma and Daniel). Colleen was predeceased by her parents,
1 brother, 4 sisters and 1 nephew. Colleen is fondly remembered by family and friends, including 1 sister (Bernice) in England, 1 brother (George) in Alberta, many nieces and nephews in Canada and England, her 9 grandchildren and their spouses, as well as her 11 great- grandchildren.
Colleen has lived in Vancouver, Vernon, and Creston BC, Edmonton, Calgary, Banff and Lamont (for nurse's training) Alberta, Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan and Kingston, Ontario. She travelled throughout most of Canada and to many countries around the world, being very interested in the people, scenery, wildlife and history.
Colleen had many interests in life as well as Nursing and Healthcare - her family, travelling, reading, sewing, knitting and volunteering: as a Sunday School teacher, on Church committees, boards and Women's groups, Home and School groups, Brownies and Guides, the Kidney Foundation, Hospital Auxiliary, Hospital Board and as a St. John Ambulance instructor.
She was a special friend to all who crossed her path in life! Colleen will always be remembered as a gentle, compassionate soul, with a mighty inner strength, always interested in others, a wonderful, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Colleen's compassionate, giving nature continues on with a UBC Faculty of Medicine Body Donation, in the hopes of helping as many people as possible with new discoveries in medicine and for teaching purposes.
Heartfelt thanks goes out to the wonderful staff of Long Term Care at Creekside Landing for their kindness and care of Colleen during her stay there. A Celebration! of Life will be held at a later date (perhaps the last week of August). A notice will appear in the newspaper approximately 2 weeks prior.
A quote Colleen chose: "I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death". In lieu of flowers, Colleen has requested a donation - in the name of Colleen Hughes - be made to The Alzheimer Society of BC, Research Fund. By mail to: 300 - 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1E2. On-line: https://alzheimer.ca/bc where a memory donation page can be found.
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