It is with profound sadness that we said goodbye to Agnes Gillie Isabella Cook (Robertson) Bentley on 10 August 2026.
“Ag” as she was known to family and friends, lived all of her 97 years in Victoria, her life ending where it began at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
She is grieved by Ron, her devoted husband of 76 years, daughter Lesley, son Craig, grandson Kyle and his wife Kelsey, granddaughter Cara and her husband Elliott, great-grandchildren Edwin, Neve and Simon, and many other family members.
Born to Jack and Jessie Robertson in May 1929, Agnes was the second daughter of a family of eight children. She is survived by sisters Jessie, Violet and Ina, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In her youth Agnes attended North Ward and Vic High, where teachers would occasionally leave her in charge of the class, no doubt due to her experience being a second mother and role-model to her younger siblings. Having a strong Scottish heritage, she was active playing the drums in a Scottish band and highland dancing, but also enjoyed field hockey and basketball.
Agnes married Ron Bentley, the love of her long life, in May 1950, shortly after her 21st birthday. To help support the family in the early years of marriage, Agnes was a telephone operator for the RCMP. On leaving, Agnes received the rare honor of a commemorative plate for being the ‘best operator’.
In 1956 with the arrival of Lesley, Agnes’s focus became motherhood and managing the household. Ron was wise enough to get her to run the family finances, where they always made wise and timely decisions.
A Fantastic cook, she also kept Craig in the cleanest football and rugby uniforms in Victoria!
In 1983 with Lesley and Craig moved out, and Ron retired, Agnes became an avid golfer. She also enjoyed long walks, ‘winning’ at the slot machines in Reno and Las Vegas, and watching Lesley ride her horses.
Agnes will be lovingly remembered by all the lives she touched.
Her family is extremely grateful to the entire Health Care Team of the Royal Jubilee Hospital and Hospice who gave such outstanding and loving care to both Agnes and Ron, and enabled them to remain together during the last months of her life.
No formal memorial service is planned at this time. Anyone wishing to honor Agnes’s memory is encouraged to make a donation to the RJH Hospice in her name.
Condolences may be offered below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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