January 23, 1923 ~ November 12, 2019 (age 96)

Jenny Eakins, nee Jenny Peter, was born in January 1923 in Audric, France where her father was stationed with the British Army. Shortly after that early French start, her British Army father, Lieutenant Colonel Fred Peter and Mother, Louise, took the family back to Kent, England.

Mum had a life filled with major changes and upheavals that she met with a resilient spirit.  Our Mum lived through a depression, dodged machine gun fire, and served in the British Army (like father like daughter). Jenny was a Sergeant Major and was stationed with the ATS in Hastings in the Cypher Division. It was there she met and married her Canadian husband, Thomas Eakins, on October 24, 1943.

In 1946, along with many other War Brides she set sail for Canada with her 16 month old son, Peter, leaving behind a loving family. She and Tom set up their first home in Kitsilano, Vancouver and then after 4 more children came along, she and Tom moved the family to Kerrisdale. Oh, she loved Vancouver with its mountains and ocean. The last 12 years of her life were spent in Parksville.

She raised five children and experienced many challenges along the way, which she faced with her British “stiff upper lip”.  Her rallying cry was “we have standards; never let them slip!” Mum was a feminist before it became a trend, believing there was nothing you couldn’t do if you set your mind to it. She worked well into her 70’s and volunteered along the way. She loved to gamble and enjoyed many visits to Reno.

Mum lost the love of her life, her best friend, Tom after 57 years of marriage in 1999. She was also predeceased by her oldest son, Peter, in 2006 and her grandson, Shane, in 2018.

Jenny is survived by her children, Penny (Ross), Aileen, Tom and Trish, her daughter-in-law, Karen (John), 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandson. Back in England, she is survived by brother, Bill Peter, and many nieces and nephews.

What everyone will remember about Jenny is her energetic personality, her sense of humour, and the way her face would light up when you came into a room.

Jenny’s family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Stanford Seniors Village for their care and support during her 4 year stay.

“And in the passage of her flight, her song rings out through the night, full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.”

Condolences through https://www.yatesmemorial.ca/

• Date : 2019-11-12