Geneva Dreger (nee Zajic)

Geneva Dreger (nee Zajic) passed away peacefully on May 30, 2010. Left to mourn are her husband of 67 years, Del; daughters, Holly Tuokko (Don Chaput) and Bonnie Boon (Edward); grandchildren Aaron Chaput, Graeme Boon (Jaylene) and Robyn Boon (Kelly Groening); great-grandchildren Lucas Boon and Ashley Boon-Groening. She is survived by her brother, Chester Zajic; sister, Gladys Fletcher; sisters-in-law, Lily Dreger and Muriel Zajic and many much-loved nieces and nephews. Geneva was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Ethel Zajic; her brother, Howard; brother-in-law, Ellwood Fletcher, and sisters-in-law, Norah Zajic and Trudie Munro. Geneva was born July 21, 1919 in Alberta’s Rosedale district, north of Edgerton, to Frank and Ethel Zajic, the second of four children. She attended school in the area and then went on to high school in Wainwright and Normal School in Edmonton receiving her teacher’s certificate in 1939. She taught in various rural schools during the War Years, a time when teachers were frozen in their positions and could not accept employment elsewhere. On March 13, 1943, she married Delmer Dreger of Edmonton and from the end of the war until 1953 they owned and operated Kentish Greenhouses and Bonnie Flowers in Edmonton’s Bonnie Doon district. While her children were still quite young, Geneva returned to the classroom and devoted most of her life to teaching in Napanee, Ontario; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Ottawa, Ontario; and Thunder Bay, Ontario. ln Edmonton in the Seventies, she taught kindergarten and later ran a home daycare. As there were no guidelines for kindergarten curricula at that time, she developed a “Play and Learn” series of activities to promote creative thinking and doing. ln 1980, she and Del retired to Victoria.
Geneva had a good sense of humor and would laugh at the same joke as often as you cared to tell it. She took a keen interest in her family, especially in her and Del’s nieces and nephews and the growth of their families; she would have been delighted to see the newest wee generation spreading out across the land. During her years in Victoria, she faced several health challenges but rose to them all. She gave back to the community through organizations such as the Ostomy Society, Victoria Golden Rods and Reels and BC Senior Games. She was always mindful that there were those less fortunate than she, and was ready to lend a hand wherever she could. Thank you to everyone who has supported mom and the family in any way.

Memorial Services will be held in MCCALL BROS. FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson & Vancouver Streets on Friday, June 4, 2010 at 2:30 pm with a reception to follow in McCall’s Family Centre and Luther Court on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow. Donations in Geneva’s name may be made to Goldstream Hatchery, 2979 Sooke Lake Road, Langford, BC; Canadian Red Cross, 909 Fairfield Road, Victoria, B.C. VBV 3A3; Luther Court Greenhouse Fund, 1525 Cedar Hill Cross Road, Victoria, B.C. V8P 5M1. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.