December 20, 1932 - March 11, 2018
Jean passed away peacefully in her sleep March 11, 2018 in Salmon Arm, BC. Jean was born in Fort William, Ontario (Thunder Bay) on December 20, 1932, the youngest of 8 children.
Mom married our father Thomas O. Olmstead on June 22, 1951 in Fort William, Ontario. They both worked for the Great Lakes Paper Company and met in a logging camp. Mom was a cookee and dad was a paymaster. Together they had 7 children. They moved back to town in 1957 so we could attend school.
She moved to Thompson, MB in 1970 and lived there until 1993 when she moved to the Vancouver area and then settled in Salmon Arm, BC in 1996. Mom enjoyed children and worked at the Thompson Day Care and was a union representative for the staff and later became acting director.
Mom was a member of St John's Ambulance for over 25 years and volunteered at many community events providing first aid and she was a recipient of the Special Sister of the Order of St John's award. She was also a member of the Rebecca Lodge in Thompson MB for many years and she enjoyed charity work.
When mom was retired she went back to school and earned her grade twelve at the age of 78. She kept in touch with friends in Thunder Bay, Thompson and Salmon Arm through the years. Mom enjoyed the company of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and our friends were always welcome at our house and she usually had her fantastic baking on hand.
Mom always had extra room at the dinner table and no one could resist her turkey dressing at Christmas time.
Jean was predeceased by her parents, Lorena (nee Corbett) and George Crouchill, her sisters Pat and Lena and her brothers George, Frankie, Johnny and Alfred, two husbands Thomas O. Olmstead and Don Geary and one son-in-law, Peter David McLeish.
Mom is survived by her five daughters, Helen McLeish, Mary Joy Lovering (Ken), Karen Young (Roger), Tracey Goosen (Roy), Deanna Hoffer and 2 sons, Clinton and Tom Olmstead.
She is also survived by one brother Harry Crouchill , a life long childhood friend Ruth Christiansen, 23 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.
We would like to thank the staff at Bastion Place for their care of mom. The family will have a private visitation and cremation will take place at Bowers Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to Jean's family through her obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com.
There will be a celebration of life for the late Mrs. Jean Geary on September 16, 2018 at 11:00 am at Bowers Funeral Home, Salmon Arm, BC. All are welcome to attend.
Bowers Funeral Home
Additional Photo(s):
Service Details
11:00 AM