After a courageous 4-year battle with cancer, Jacob Walter Kenneth Twyford died in his parents’ arms on April 20, 2011 at 4:30 pm in their Victoria, BC home. He was 7 years old.
Jacob is survived by father Philip, mother Wency, little brother Ben, grandparents Walter and Kathleen Twyford, grandparents Kenneth and Andra Lum, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family in Canada, the US, the UK, and China, and also his fish Robert. He was born on a sunny Manhattan day in New York City and was proud to introduce himself as a native New Yorker.
Jacob dreamed, made plans, and took every opportunity to have adventures. He visited the shark capital of Monterey, California, honked the horn on the BC Ferry with Captain Bob, fed Beluga whales, handled an owl named Notlee, and helped to build a tree house. He was a talented cook who loved exploring new foods. Red was his favourite colour; it represented his personality – dynamic, exuberant, and happy. Most of all, he loved life and the joy that is possible even in small moments. Although he is deeply missed, we know that he is safe in Heaven, where he is probably already making suggestions to their menu.
Heartfelt thanks for the incredible care Jacob had at BC Children’s Hospital, especially to our hero, Dr. Sheila Pritchard, and the amazing team of doctors and nurses at BCCH, Victoria General Hospital, and University of California at San Francisco. Many thanks also for the love and support of family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to BCCH Oncology Clinic Child Life through Kristina Jackson at BCCH, email: kjackson@cw.bc.ca or contact the family.
Services for Jacob will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 10:00 am at McCALL BROS. FLORAL CHAPEL, Johnson at Vancouver Street in Victoria, BC. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 27, 2011 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at McCall’s. All are welcome. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com.
35 Responses
Dear, Wency, Phillip and Ben,
Although our association has been extremely brief, we would like you to know it has been an honour and a privilege to have met you- I met Jacob just once at home in recent weeks when he was feeling good and was awed by his intelligence and personality. I was amazed at his culinary interest and excitement in creating cookies in the kitchen- he was so animated at the thought of the end result – I had indeed heard he loved to eat! On behalf of all of us at Bayshore, please accept our sincere sympathy for his loss. Our thoughts are with you.
Sara and the Bayshore nursing team.
Dear Philip,
It is with great sadness that we heard about Jacob’s passing. Please accept our heartfelt condolences; you and your family are in our thoughts.
Wency, Philip and Ben,
I am so sorry for the loss of dear Jacob. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. May this be the last pain you endure in your lives.
Yashar Barza
Philip, Wency & Ben,
Please know that our hearts and thoughts are with you.
We are all blessed and so fortunate to have been neighbours to such a wonderful young man. While he couldn’t stay with us for long, Jacob was a young man who was way beyond his years and who touched our hearts in so may ways.
What an amazing little guy. Dear Jacob, rest in peace, and to your loving family, my deepest condolences.
Michael
Our deepest sympathy on your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Philip, Wency, Ben,
I was very saddened to hear of Jacob’s passing. I hope you have many joyful memories to console you in the loss of a very special son and big brother. My thoughts are with you.
Anne Minnings
My deepest sympathy to you and your family for your loss. Jacob was a great little boy I was fortunate enough to have met him at VGH. He sure made my day a little guy full of life and happiness
We were so saddened to hear of Jacob’s passing. We are honoured that we had the chance to meet him. We will remember seeing the joy on his face whenever he was able to attend school. We will remember his love of sharks and sea life. We will remember the time when Jacob and Tyler were talking about running shoes.
You are in our thoughts and prayers. We pray that Jacob is rejoicing in Heaven with his new body, free of sickness, free of pain. We also pray that God will provide you much peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Dear Wency,
I am so sorry about the loss of your precious Jacob. My heartfelt condolence to you, Philip, Ben and your families. Please know you are in my thoughts. Susan