Nov 14, 1918 - Oct 25, 2017
Nan French
Nan (Annie) French: Nan passed away on October 25, 2017. She was just 3 weeks short of her 99th Birthday. She was born in Carman Manitoba on November 14, 1918, just 3 days after the first Armistice Day.
Nan moved to Nelson with her parents, Jim and Helen Stout and her older brother Jack, in 1920. She left school after only a couple of months of High School to help the family when her youngest sister Isabel was born. She worked in the kitchen of Nelson Hospital as a dietitians' aid until her marriage to Edward Morris French on 8th March 1941. She lived in the home Morris built for her on Third Street for 76 years right up until the last week of her life when she moved in with their eldest daughter Marian.
As a child she learned to Highland Dance and entered competitions with her sisters at the annual Highland games. She was active in the Anglican Church and Anglican Church Women's groups first at the Church of the Redeemer in Fairview until it closed and then at St. Saviour's.
For many years she volunteered in the church kitchen with the other women from the church, catering for weddings and other events. Whenever there was a tea at Mount Saint Frances she would spend many hours baking cookies, then serve at the tea while taking time to visit with the residents.
Her love of dolls led her to the making and selling of dolls at Craft Fairs with her daughter Barbara. Special to her were her Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and sock monkeys, as well as many other crafts and of course her famous Catnip Balls. She was a proficient sewer and knitter.
Nan was predeceased by the love of her life, Morris in 1969, her parents Jim and Helen Stout, brothers Jack and Jim, sisters Margaret Stout, Hazel Peachey and Helen Gentles Wright and son-in-law Phillip Verigin.
She is survived by daughters Marian (Ed) Craft and Barbara Verigin and son Jim (Joy) French; Grandchildren Colin (Colleen), Chris (Lenora) and Kevin (Teri) Craft, Michelle (Chaychana) Souvannachack, Heather (Chad Bergan) Verigin, Danny (Julie Clemens) French, Jordie (Alexis Ullyett) French; eleven Great Grandchildren and three Great Great Grandchildren; her sister Isabel as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the home care workers and nurses of Nelson and Castlegar and Dr. Andrew Murray of Nelson and Dr. Ellen Smart of Castlegar for their wonderful care.
In lieu of flowers a donation in memory of Nan can be given to the charity of your choice.
Funeral Service will be November 14 at 11 a.m. at St. Saviour's Anglican Church, 701 Ward Street, Nelson, B.C.