~ She longest lives, who most to others gives, herself forgetting ~
Beverley Alice Thomas, nee Rogers, passed away peacefully last Friday. Her family lovingly surrounded her to ease her journey.
She is remembered and eternally loved by her husband, Maldwyn, and their four children, Wiley, Alex, Lily and Trevor. Their spouses, Marc, Dali and Miryam mourn her passing too. She leaves behind three beautiful and talented granddaughters, Lilian, Monique and Tessa. Her brother Gary and sister-in-law Jessie (nee Peard) Rogers, her niece Kelly, nephews Gordon and Murray, and many cousins in Canada and New Zealand will remember her fondly. She was predeceased by her mother and father, William and Roma (nee Johnson) Rogers of Salt Spring Island, and by her elder brother, Gordon.
Beverley led a wonderful life. This ‘redheaded robin’ from Salt Spring Island journeyed far in her 92 trips around the sun. She was an extraordinarily talented artist, one who has left behind a legacy that will be admired and enjoyed for generations to come. Her working life may have begun as an art teacher to school children in Vancouver and the Kootenays; however, her appetite for adventure would eventually take her on a back-packing trip through Europe. In Hamburg, Germany, she met and fell in love with fellow British Columbian Maldwyn. They enjoyed 62 years of married life together. His career as a Canadian diplomat took this intrepid and fun-loving couple to many interesting, and sometimes challenging, locations around the world. Wherever they landed, they forged fond and colourful memories.
As a family, we would like to honour Beverley’s open-hearted nature that had a positive effect on the lives of everyone she met. She nurtured many children, offering her home and her kindness. She was truly a mother to all. What will always remain timeless about Beverley is her quick wit and dry sense of humour. It will carry us all through the times ahead. Beverley’s family and her many friends miss her deeply.
A Funeral Service for Beverley was held in the Sequoia Centre, at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 2:00pm, with the Rev. Canon Andrew E. Gates presiding. A reception will follow the service. For friends so desiring, a donation to the Red Cross in memory of Beverley, would be greatly appreciated.
Condolences to the family may be made below.
To view service click on arrow below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
29 Responses
My deepest condolences. Steven Todd, an old neighbour in Tourtour, France. Still alive and happy in Brussels.
We send the Thomas family our condolences and deepest sympathy. This must be such a difficult time for you, Maldwyn, after you and Bev had been together for such a long time and travelled and done so many things together, and we do hope that wonderful memories will help you through. You and your family took wonderful care of Bev during the time she was ill, and that must have been a great comfort to her. Bev was a lovely person, and we always enjoyed her quiet humour — we will miss her. She was such a remarkable artist, and I have kept a number of cards showing her paintings because I like them so much. They will be lovely reminders of her.
Your family will be very much in our thoughts, and we will always remember Bev very fondly.
Vanessa and John
Dear Wiley and family,
My family and I send our thoughts and prayers to you and your wonderful family . I am so grateful that through Maryanna Rixson , I was able to meet your dear mother and you .My sister Sharon and I will always have fond memories of staying with her and meeting our Roger’s family cousins !!!
Sending our love especially to your father and the rest of you family . Please let’s keep in touch .
Linda Reidel and family.
Sending you all so much love and tenderness during this time of transition for you. I will always remember spending some lovely time with Bev in Tourtour, France during the summer of 2000. I also appreciate and value the long-standing and dear friendship you have with my parents, that began when you were neighbours in Tsawwassen.
With Love,
Jennifer Lang & Kirk Wilson
George & Marsha Taylor
Dear Maldy and Family, So sorry for your loss. We watched the funeral service and the tributes to a wonderful Mother were heartfelt. George and Maldy met at UBC. I had the pleasure of meeting Maldy and Bev the first time in Tour Tour in 1998. Immediately we found Bev to be an interesting, adventures and witty person. George went back to Tour Tour with the Oatmeal Breakfast Group when Bev gave art lessons. We were fortunate to have some wonderful times in Vancouver and Victoria with Maldy and Bev and we will never forget her sense of humour. She has left a lasting memory for so many.
Dear Maldy and Family, So sorry for your loss. We watched the funeral service and the tributes to a wonderful Mother were heartfelt. George and Maldy met at UBC. I had the pleasure of meeting Maldy and Bev the first time in Tour Tour in 1998. Immediately we found Bev to be an interesting, adventures and witty person. George went back to Tour Tour with the Oatmeal Breakfast Group when Bev gave art lessons. We were fortunate to have some wonderful times in Vancouver and Victoria with Maldy and Bev and we will never forget her sense of humour. She has left a lasting memory for so many.
Our deepest sympathy to the Thomas family. She was a sweet and kind lady. We will miss her.
Dear Maldy and family.
Our deepest condolences.
Thinking of you and sending our love.
Marit and Gunnar.
My husband Hellmuth and I met Bev and Maldy in Hamburg in 1958. Hellmuth worked for Coleman, Maldy at the Canadian consulate, and Bev taught German soldiers the English language. There were great parties in Maldy’s apartment at the Rondel. We soon formed a circle of friends. We were young, we were free – life was good. Although we all gradually left Hamburg, the close bond between Bev, Maldy, and us lasted.
Bev and Maldy married, and soon four children were born, one after the other – Wylie, Sasha, Larissa, and Trevor. Maldy climbed the career ladder and worked for his government in many countries and cities: Stockholm, Hong Kong, Moscow, Vienna, Tokyo, Paris, Düsseldorf, and Jakarta. Bev supported him in every way she could and managed the ever-growing household, often under very difficult conditions. In addition, she found time for what she enjoyed most and was so close to her heart – her art. Hellmuth and I visited Bev and Maldy as often as we could, in Paris, in Vienna, and even in Indonesia. Bev was always a great hostess and a wonderful, open-hearted friend.
When Bev and Maldy moved to rainy Brussels, they bought a vacation home in the south of France in Toutour, a tiny, very old village on a plateau. After Hellmuth’s death, I spent wonderful vacations with them there over many summers. These visits and the conversations with Bev and Maldy are some of the best memories I have.
Today I live in a small apartment in a retirement home. Many gifts from Bev have accompanied me there and are an important part of my life – the enchanting plant picture, the bowl in soft turquoise, and the doll she made for the birth of my first son.
My friendship with Bev was one of the greatest enrichments of my life. I miss her very much and often think of her and the Thomas family.
Adieu Bev, EVA