Alethea Mary Lacey was born at home, at 30 West Street, Crewkerne, England, the only child of Elsie and Sidney Lacey. This was where she grew up and lived until the day she married Ben Harrison on Sept. 18, 1951 and became Alethea Harrison. The two were married for 62 years. One son, Kim, was born in England in 1954, and in 1957 the family immigrated to Canada, balancing the risks with the prospect of opportunity.
They first settled on Vancouver Island where Ben found work as a herdsman and Alethea as a cook at Genoa Bay Farm near Duncan. Son Alan was born at Duncan in 1959. In 1961, the family moved to Salmon Arm after Ben received a transfer at his milktesting job. They settled in the Silver Creek area. The twins, Teresa and Trevor, were born at Shuswap Lake General Hospital in 1961.
Alethea became involved in the community with the Women’s Institute, as a cub scout leader, as a member of the Salmon Arm Tennis Club and later with the Shuswap Singers. She worked as a day care assistant for many years, and later as a lunchtime supervisor at Salmon Arm West School. Ben and Alethea purchased property on Foothill Road and built a house in which they resided until the present. After Ben’s retirement in 1990, Alethea and Ben travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Raratonga, and the Hawaiian Islands, across Canada to Newfoundland and up to Alaska.
After her grandchildren were born, Alethea supported them by attending all the sports they were involved with over the years, offering encouragement and advice. She loved her later years, living with Ben through the passing seasons at their property under the shade of the fir and cedar trees, from their window the view of the West Peak of Mt. Ida. She was devoted to her family and giving to the end.
Survived by husband Ben, sons Kim (Candy) of Burnaby, B. C., Alan (Debbie), Trevor (Shannon) of Salmon Arm, daughter Teresa (John), of Burnaby, and grandchildren Andrew, David, Faith, Mark, Nick, Ryan, Timmy and Tristan.
Memorial service will be held on Monday, July 14th, 2:00 pm at Bowers Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Alethea’s name may be made to the Shuswap Lake Hospital Foundation.
On line condolences may be sent to Alethea’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com