Zoe (Marian) Hunter

Zoe (Marian) Hunter, 83.

Born in Swansea, Wales on May 16, 1940 to Winifred and Abdul Rahim. Died in Victoria, British Columbia, on Sept. 8, 2023. Zoe is survived by her children, Conan (Indrani) and Justine (Darryl), grandchildren Alexandra, Chaz, Dexter, Rhys and Vester, and her great grandchildren Maxim and Nicolas.

Zoe was a passionate and tireless activist for peace, for the environment, and for human rights.

She was gifted with a beautiful singing voice, and she shared her boundless hospitality and delightful cooking with all who came into her home. Zoe would get lost in literature and poetry; a perfect afternoon would be reading newspapers and drinking cappuccino with friends on Commercial Drive.

Zoe met Bob Hunter in London and he brought her to Canada as his bride in 1963. The Winnipeg climate did not agree with her, and she led the family to the West Coast where she continued pursuing her activism by helping found the Don’t Make a Wave Committee that would eventually become Greenpeace. Like many of the other women involved with the beginnings of Greenpeace, she was rarely acknowledged for her contributions, but she did not seek the limelight.

Bob and Zoe’s marriage ended a decade later, but Vancouver remained her home for more than 60 years, where she volunteered countless hours for the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, the Vancouver Burma Round Table, and Amnesty International. She was a pivotal organizer of the Amnesty Film Festival for 20 years.

Alzheimer’s eventually claimed her memory, but she was sweet, gentle and humorous to the end.

Zoe died peacefully, with family at her side, listening to music by Leonard Cohen.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Alzeheimer Society of Canada .

A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, 12:30 p.m., Oct. 22, 2023 in the Summit Room at Seasons in the Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, West 33rd Avenue (at Cambie) Vancouver, B.C.