Lilian "Joyce" (Russell) Levy

Mom slipped away suddenly, sweetly and softly. She had just enjoyed a visit with her daughters Alexis, Alison and Deborah on facetime and was ready for lunch. Just before she left for lunch, she said to Deborah, “It must be hard to go and see an old mother and discover that she has disappeared”. Within minutes the staff called to say that Mom had suffered a stroke and was now resting in her room. Fifteen minutes later they called again to say Mom was gone. Although we are deeply shocked and saddened, we couldn’t have written a better script for her. This was the way Mom always wanted to go.

She raised five children single-handedly in Vancouver in the 60’s. She was the best example of strength, love, loyalty and fierce determination. Reading was her passion and her solace. When she wasn’t reading she was walking. How she loved her walks with friends, family or alone. Mom went on to own a bookstore in Horseshoe Bay and later in South Granville. In the 80’s she moved to Victoria to be near her daughter Leslie, Alexis and their families. They all enjoyed their walks, coffees and concerts for years.

In her senior years she took on several volunteer jobs, from helping AIDS victims, delivering library books to shut-ins, taking other seniors for walks, to knitting toques for newborns.

 For fourteen years she loved living at The Glenshiel, close to Beacon Hill Park, walking for miles every day, knowing that her dinner would be ready when she returned home (with no dishes to do afterwards).

Eventually, dementia took its toll and Mom required some nursing care. In August, 2020, she moved up-island to Stanford Place in Parksville. Her room had a beautiful view of bushes, trees, and Mount Arrowsmith.  She received wonderful care and even with Covid protocol, enjoyed in-person visits and visits through the window.

Mom is pre-deceased by her daughter Leslie, and her husbands Mansell Grey and Maurice Levy. She is survived by her daughters Alexis, Alison and Deborah, and her son Shaun; also by five grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild.

We love and miss you, Mom.

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