1938
Evelyn
2018
Evelyn Samuel
February 1, 1938 — December 11, 2018
Evelyn Samuel, 80, passed away peacefully in her home on December 11, 2018, surrounded by the things she loved most, family and nature. In her last days, her bed was turned to face the large window overlooking the lake she and her husband, Michael Bocking, had created and, behind it, the steep hill atop which they had been married 21 years ago. Earthspring Sanctuary, their 123-acre forested property in the Highlands outside of Victoria, BC, had been the fulfillment of her dream to live and work amongst nature and the representation of her values to preserve as much of the precious earth as she could.
Just days before she passed, Evelyn was also to fulfill one of her last wishes: to gather all the immediate family for a Christmas celebration she knew would be her last. Such gatherings with friends and family were Evelyn's greatest joy.
Her departure is deeply mourned by her beloved husband, Michael, her three children, Arthur, Andrew (Jackie), Jeannie (David) and Michael's two children, Jennifer and Shaun. She also leaves behind the grandchildren she so cherished, Jake (Patty, who is expecting), Eamon, Alex, Bryce, Kai, Nikko, Fifi, and Katie. She will also be dearly missed by her niece, Stephanie Boulogne, her husband, Kent, and their children, Saskia and Tasha, and her nephew John, his wife, Griffin, and their daughter, Avaleigh, and by her brother-in-law, Steve Johnson. Dear friends, whom Evelyn treated like family, will also miss her generous and loving heart.
Evelyn was predeceased as a child by a younger sister, Kathy, more recently, in 2015, by her dear sister, Jean Johnson, by her mother Olga Zaharichuk in 2007, and by her father Steve Zaharichuk in 2002.
Born in February, 1938 in Smoky Lake, Alberta to a Ukrainian-immigrant family, Evelyn inherited a pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit that propelled her through a busy and accomplished life as well as the gift of a practical and positive outlook that made her uplifting to be around.
Evelyn moved with her family to Rossland, BC, then Edmonton in 1953, and graduated in 1959 with a BA from the University of Alberta. She married her high school boyfriend, George Samuel, in 1958, with whom she had three children. She earned a teaching certificate and taught children with special needs. In 1973, she and her children moved to Salt Spring Island, then, in 1974, to Victoria where she taught primary school before pursuing her dream of publishing The Canadian Children's Magazine , which had a loyal following from 1976-1979. She then took a job in Communications at the Victoria School District, which led to similar work at ICBC and then a position as Director of Public Relations at the University of Victoria.
Always a strong and independent woman, Evelyn raised her children mostly on her own, working both outside the home to provide for them and in the home to build them a solid foundation. After her children were grown, she met Michael, with whom she shared her most sacred values, including their love of the land, and they moved to the Highlands, a community whose principles of nature conservation Evelyn appreciated. Together, she and Michael built their own home in the forest using their own trees. They also created a lake, a beautiful meditation building, cabins, and camping spots, which became Earthspring Sanctuary, a place of peace and retreat for various spiritual and nature-loving groups.Earthspring - and her children - are Evelyn's legacy.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Highlands in the spring of 2019 - date to be announced.
Please click on left menu "share/subscribe to this tribute" to receive automatic updates on service details etc.
Just days before she passed, Evelyn was also to fulfill one of her last wishes: to gather all the immediate family for a Christmas celebration she knew would be her last. Such gatherings with friends and family were Evelyn's greatest joy.
Her departure is deeply mourned by her beloved husband, Michael, her three children, Arthur, Andrew (Jackie), Jeannie (David) and Michael's two children, Jennifer and Shaun. She also leaves behind the grandchildren she so cherished, Jake (Patty, who is expecting), Eamon, Alex, Bryce, Kai, Nikko, Fifi, and Katie. She will also be dearly missed by her niece, Stephanie Boulogne, her husband, Kent, and their children, Saskia and Tasha, and her nephew John, his wife, Griffin, and their daughter, Avaleigh, and by her brother-in-law, Steve Johnson. Dear friends, whom Evelyn treated like family, will also miss her generous and loving heart.
Evelyn was predeceased as a child by a younger sister, Kathy, more recently, in 2015, by her dear sister, Jean Johnson, by her mother Olga Zaharichuk in 2007, and by her father Steve Zaharichuk in 2002.
Born in February, 1938 in Smoky Lake, Alberta to a Ukrainian-immigrant family, Evelyn inherited a pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit that propelled her through a busy and accomplished life as well as the gift of a practical and positive outlook that made her uplifting to be around.
Evelyn moved with her family to Rossland, BC, then Edmonton in 1953, and graduated in 1959 with a BA from the University of Alberta. She married her high school boyfriend, George Samuel, in 1958, with whom she had three children. She earned a teaching certificate and taught children with special needs. In 1973, she and her children moved to Salt Spring Island, then, in 1974, to Victoria where she taught primary school before pursuing her dream of publishing The Canadian Children's Magazine , which had a loyal following from 1976-1979. She then took a job in Communications at the Victoria School District, which led to similar work at ICBC and then a position as Director of Public Relations at the University of Victoria.
Always a strong and independent woman, Evelyn raised her children mostly on her own, working both outside the home to provide for them and in the home to build them a solid foundation. After her children were grown, she met Michael, with whom she shared her most sacred values, including their love of the land, and they moved to the Highlands, a community whose principles of nature conservation Evelyn appreciated. Together, she and Michael built their own home in the forest using their own trees. They also created a lake, a beautiful meditation building, cabins, and camping spots, which became Earthspring Sanctuary, a place of peace and retreat for various spiritual and nature-loving groups.Earthspring - and her children - are Evelyn's legacy.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the Highlands in the spring of 2019 - date to be announced.
Please click on left menu "share/subscribe to this tribute" to receive automatic updates on service details etc.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Evelyn Samuel, please visit our flower store.
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