Rosemarie Margaret 'Deirdre' Beresford

BERESFORD, Deirdre (Dee) (nee Storey), born in Bournemouth, England July 16, 1943, passed away suddenly on April 13, 2016. Along with other budding artists she attended the Harrow School of Art where she further developed her gift and graduated with a Fine Arts Degree in 1963. Deirdre emigrated from England to Victoria in 1970 with her two young children and husband (Chris Russell). In 1976 Deirdre moved to Calgary and became involved in community service, including volunteer work at the University of Calgary and the Calgary Health Region. Returning to Victoria in 1990 she continued to help others at the Victoria Arthritis Centre, the VIHA Patient Advisory Board and then the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Palliative Care Unit, until her declining health precluded further activity. Deirdre loved the community here and was inspired to create diverse works of art, including drawings, calligraphy and fibre arts. Deirdre is survived by her husband of 31 years, John, her children Judy Lose (Mike) and Owen Russell (Sandra) and grandchildren (Ryan, Joseph, Amanda and Ashley). Her family was the light of her life, and she will be deeply missed by many. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 21 at St Mary's Anglican Church, 1973 Cultra Avenue, Saanichton at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Palliative Care Unit, http://sphf.ca/contribution/ or the Victoria Arthritis Centre, http://mpap.vch.ca/about/giving-opportunities

Celebration of Life