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Elinor Balfour Hoy

1921-2016

Our family is saddened to announce that Elinor passed away on Sunday, May 29th, 2016. Elinor was born in Armstrong, B.C. on September 21, 1921. She grew up in North Vancouver, attended Vancouver Normal School to become a teacher, and started her teaching career in Christina Lake.

She met Helge in North Vancouver and they married in 1943. During the war she moved to New York with Michael, their 10 month old son, to be closer to Helge. He was in the Norwegian Merchant Marines, sailing between Liverpool and New York. He was involved in the battle of the Atlantic, an anxious time for all. Their son Trygve was born at the end of the war and the young family moved to Norway where their daughter, Lesli Elise, was born.

For seven years they lived on the family islands south of Kristiansand. In 1953 they emigrated to Canada, first to Blubber Bay on Texada Island and later to Chemainus where they built their family home which still remains the center for all family gatherings.

Elinor taught for many years in the central island area, in Chemainus, Ladysmith, North Oyster and Glenora, where many of her former students remember her fondly. Her passions were family, “Where there is heart room there is house room”, her painting, her church community, travelling and excursions up and down the coast on Helge’s hand built boat, their beloved Viking.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Andrea), Trygve (Lorraine) and Lesli Elise (Rolf), grandchildren (Jeremy, Christopher, Jeff, Tara, Eivin and Christian) and great grandchildren (Kai, Lauren, Jordan, Rowan and Annika) and extended family in Canada, Norway and South Africa.

A memorial service will be held at St. Michael and All Angels Church in Chemainus at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 11. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elinor’s name to her church, the Salvation Army or a charity of your choice.



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