Willard James Treleaven

Willard James Treleaven

1942- 2023

James Treleaven of Richmond BC died peacefully in his suite at the Trillium Douglas Care Community residence on June 3, 2023 with loving family in attendance.  He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1942.  He was predeceased by his father Errol in 1944 and by his mother Willimena Ruby Treleaven in 2006.

James graduated from UBC in 1966 with a Bachelor of Law degree and practiced  in Surrey BC. He was a lover of opera, English literature and post impressionist painters. In retirement he was active in the Richmond Lawn Bowling and Curling clubs and for many years volunteered in classes supporting immigrants learning English as a second language.  He was unfailingly attentive to the needs of family elders.

Though James choose a relatively solitary bachelor’s life, he always remained engaged with his good neighbors of many many years in Steveston BC,  his Richmond friends and his family.  He had a reserved and quiet nature and wry sense of humor which endeared him to all who knew him.  He had a strong sense of compassion and of responsibility and attended to these both in unassuming ways.

The family wishes to thank all of the staff of the Douglas Care nursing home in Victoria BC who so kindly and expertly supported James in the past few years of his life.  The family is honoring James’ request for no celebration of life but for those wishing to respond we can pass on that he is very committed to the Canadian UNICEF Committee with a special interest in its work for children in Africa. He shall be sadly missed by his cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.