Nancy passed away peacefully in hospital after a short illness on March 24, 2021 in Victoria BC. Born on August 27, 1921 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England, Nan was the loving daughter of George and Myra (Gledhill) Chester and sister of Geoffrey Davidson Chester of Reigate, England (predeceased).
Beloved wife of John (Jack) Cameron Archibald, FCA of Saskatoon and St. Brieux, Saskatchewan (predeceased); cherished mother of Margaret Ann Amoroso (Roger) of Ottawa and William (Bill) Bruce Archibald (Kay Norton), Coquitlam and devoted and loving “Nana” of Geoffrey Norton Archibald and Robert (Rob) Cameron Archibald of Vancouver.
Nan will be deeply missed and warmly remembered by her English cousins including Peter and Jenny Davey and their extended family, Angela King and Hilary Levitt as well as by her many friends in Victoria (including “second daughter” Kathleen Campbell); Vancouver, Saskatoon, Ottawa, England and New Zealand.
Nan will be remembered for her love for and pride in her family, her indomitable spirit and sense of purpose, her generosity, good humour and zest for life. Nan, an architect’s assistant, joined the W.A.A.F in May 1939. Flt/Sgt Chester was “Mentioned in Despatches” on January 1, 1943. She met Jack, an RCAF Squadron Leader, in 1942 over a pint at the Black Swan pub in Stratford-upon-Avon. They were married in September 1943.
As a Canadian War Bride, Nan and her daughter arrived in Canada at Pier 21 nearly 75 years ago aboard the Queen Mary and travelled by train to Saskatoon. There she spent 40 wonderful years on the prairies creating a home for her family and pursuing her many interests and hobbies. In 1985 after Jack’s death, Nan moved to Victoria to be closer to Bill and his family and spent 35 happy years enjoying life to the fullest.
Always active in her community, Nan served as the first president of the Saskatoon YWCA Overseas Wives Club (1946) and was a member of both the Saskatchewan and Canadian War Brides Associations. In the 1960’s Nan served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saskatoon YWCA and was a founding organizer of the YWCA’s Opportunity Shop.
A knowledgeable gardener, Nan had a true “green thumb” which she applied to the beautiful English gardens she created in both Saskatoon and Victoria. She was also a skilled seamstress and knitter, adventurous cook, wine maker and consummate hostess. Nan played golf, enjoyed curling and was a loyal fan of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. She loved fishing with Jack in Northern Saskatchewan lakes. She and Jack enjoyed many outdoor weekends in their cozy trailer at Redberry Lake during their 20 years as active members of the Saskatoon Sailing Club where they delighted in the camaraderie of its members many of whom became life-long friends.
As a member of the Saskatoon and the Victoria Camera Clubs, she honed her talents as an award-winning nature photographer. Her interest in family history led to a trip to New Zealand to meet newly discovered cousins with shared roots in England.
She loved to travel, making return visits to family and friends in England, exploring Canada and the USA by car with Jack and, among other adventures, touring China by train in the 1990s and visiting the magical Haida Gwaii and the Ninstints. Dogs and cats were special companions to Nan throughout her life whether they were hers, her neighbours’ or her Amoroso grand’kits.
The family offers a heartfelt thank you to the management, staff and friends at Berwick House Seniors’ Residence who provided Nancy with such kindness, friendship and attentive care over the last four years. A special thank you also to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, including the Seniors Outpatient Clinic, for their excellent medical care in recent years.
A Celebration of Nan’s Life will be held later this summer in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens in accordance with Covid guidelines.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to The BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Victoria Humane Society or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com.
24 Responses
Bill and family,
On behalf of the Smith family, I send our deepest condolences on your Mom’s passing. So many fond memories come to mind of summers spent with the Saskatoon Sailing Club at Redberry Lake. You and your Mom and Dad were such great friends of our family. We enjoyed sharing many glasses of wine and the odd cool one on the clubhouse balcony overlooking the lake often admiring the beautiful sunsets. We will always remember your Mom’s infectious laugh along with your Dad’s dry wit. One of your Mom’s photographs of sailboats on the beach at Redberry, with impending storm clouds in the distance, still decorates our home. May you find peace in knowing she led a life well lived!
Don Smith (Shirley Finell), Randy Smith (Janis), Mary Lou (Kevin Jaansalu)
No visit to Victoria was complete without a day with Nan. She would take us out to lunch and then we would go back to her townhouse for tea and catching up on photography and news of Saskatoon. Her zest for life was infectious and we always came away uplifted and happier because of her. We shared her pictures and her travels and took pictures of her and her flowers. A photo of her has adorned our fridge for many years. We will miss her.
What a life Nan led! She was full of vim and vigour, ideas and opinions. I admire her spunk to take a chance on a Canadian, move halfway across the world, and establish a new life in a different life and culture. i think of her every time I pass a garden, watch a curling game, or read about War Brides. My thoughts are with Margaret and Roger, and their families.
Nancy and I met in the mid 2000’s on a PCL bus to Vancouver. She told me she was on her way to visit her son. Our conversation made such a lasting impression on me that I remember her to this day. My condolences to Nan’s family. You must miss her so much.
Dear Margaret: I read your mother’s obituary in the Ottawa Citizen yesterday. What and extraordinary person she was! I join you in your grieving, and offer my sincerest condolences to you and your family. It is so difficult to lose one’s mother…..
Condolences were given and as our telecom: Passing away could have deep meaning for many to understand.
Claire and I will keep memories in our hearts/minds about Nan. What a lady, so strong, smart, so bright… great sense of humor. Margaret mentioned she was kinda of bossy (in a nice way) to some friends…well maybe she’s driving a bus to paradise with others with beautiful smiles to meet Tio Henry, Neil, Tia Una, Toinon (Claire’s mother)…ordering Venezuelan steaks…watching the Unicorn races…
Perhaps..so far away…we could see a new shining Star named Nan.
Small tears of love for the shining lady.
My sincere condolence to the Nan Archibald Family on Nan’s passing. Nan’s husband Jack FCA, was an excellent mentor to me (1957-1960) when I was articling with his firm Harris Fingarson & Co. of Saskatoon to become a chartered accountant. It was during this time that I met Nan on several occasions. She was a lovely lady, always cheerful, happy and full of energy. Nan was involved in community events. I have fond memories of Nan and Jack.
Nan was an inspiration to her ‘girls’ – Margie’s friends from primary school. From get togethers in the Archibald rumpus room through to our mature adulthood she entertained with her wonderful adventurous tales and her boundless energy. Such a lovely tribute the family has written. She will be in so many hearts and greatly missed.
Sorry to hear of your loss, Marg and Bill. She was such an upbeat person and a wonderful friend to my Aunts Alice and Kay and, along with Jack, to my parents, Art and Olive Goff. I have many happy memories of visits with her in Saskatoon and Victoria. Hers was a life well-lived!
Nan was indeed a force to be reckoned with… Her zest for life was totally contagious!! Stan and I first met Nan a few years ago during one of her many visits with Margaret and Roger in Ottawa – we were smitten with her from the get-go! Once we moved to Vancouver six years ago, we had the opportunity to see her more regularly, for which we are so very thankful. A visit to Victoria became incomplete for us if it did not include a visit with Nan, often over a meal at the Oak Bay marina restaurant. We had hoped to see her this last winter during our next visit to Victoria which got postponed again and again because of pandemic restrictions, and alas, our window to do so has now closed. We shall always treasure our memories of the wonderful times that we spent with her, and will of course attend her memorial in the summer. We are with her closest family members in spirit during this painful time for them. May your many loving memories of Nan bring you comfort.