It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Grace Hartfield, who died on July 10, 2026. True to who she was, Grace put her unbounded energy into living fully, with a positive outlook.
Grace was born on November 8, 1946, on the Rutland Bench in Kelowna, BC, to Kathleen and Matthew Ivans. She grew up there and later settled down the road, where she and her husband Harold built a life together, first as apple orchardists, and later cherry growers.
Grace and Harold were married on March 12, 1966, beginning a partnership that would last six decades. Family was always Grace’s greatest focus and priority. Every Christmas from the time their children were young, the family made a trip to Hawaii together, a tradition they cherished for years and through which they built lifelong friendships with the families they met at the Sheraton Waikiki. In 2012, Grace and Harold left the orchard and moved to Victoria, settling into Oak Bay, where, true to form, Grace made fast friends and became a beloved, integrated part of the neighbourhood.
Grace was an outgoing, warm presence. Friends, neighbours, the hotel staff in Hawaii, the butcher, the doctors and nurses who cared for her during her illness with lymphoma and myeloma — everyone she talked to became someone she genuinely knew. She thrived on connection and conversation, and people were drawn to her easily.
She was an extraordinary cook and baker, and family meals were always something special. She had a gift for finding joy in the small things — a good meal out or a dish at someone’s home was never just good; it was always the best of whatever she’d just tried, a sentiment that perfectly captured her sunny outlook. Grace also had a wonderful sense of style, both in how she carried herself, always put together, and in the homes she and Harold built together. She spent countless focused hours on do-it-yourself projects with Harold, painting and styling rooms and bathrooms. She knew the Benjamin Moore colour catalogue by heart.
A hard worker who could never sit still, she and Harold stayed busy in retirement, always finding something to fix or improve. Her gardens, first in Kelowna and later in Victoria, reflected that same care, always beautifully landscaped and in full bloom. She was also famously devoted to watering. It was an endearing, almost obsessive habit that meant anyone lucky enough to have Grace house-sit came home to the healthiest lawn and flowers around.
Grace found deep joy in her children and grandchildren, and she cherished every moment spent with them. She also found great delight in their pets, providing a second home for Nikki and Bradley’s dogs, most recently Stevie and Dilly, who brought her endless hours of antics and entertainment.
Grace is survived by her husband, Harold; her daughter, Nikki Taylor (Chris Taylor), and their children, Brooke and Ian; her son, Bradley Hartfield (Jennifer Hartfield), and their children, Paige and Tasha; and her sister, Eileen Gavin. She was predeceased by her parents, Kathleen and Matthew Ivans, and her brothers, Gordon and Ronald.
Grace will be deeply missed by all who knew her, and remembered for her warmth, her love of family, and her gift for finding the best in everything.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the BC Cancer Foundation’s Myeloma Research fund, in Grace’s memory.
www.bccancerfoundation.com/donations/myeloma-research.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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