Obituary of Violet Lillian Jones
JONES (LOCK), Violet Lillian, With great sadness, we announce the passing of Violet at the age 104, on May 4th, 2024. A lifelong resident of Bedford, NS, she passed peacefully at Drummond Hall, Parkland, in Halifax with family by her side.
Born to the late Daniel and Annie (Ellis) Lock on the shores of the Bedford Basin.
She is survived by sons, Terry (Kristine), Enfield; Randy (Debi), Hammonds Plains; and Dannie (Belinda), Bedford with whom she lived with for the last 36 years; grandchildren, Thom, Lynn & Jennifer; Angela, Lindsay, Kelly & Leslie; Matt & Josh; Stephanie & Brian; and all their spouses, as well as 9 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Stan Jones; daughter, Barbara (Fontaine) & son-in-law Michael; sister Catherine; brothers, Daniel Jr. “Sam”; George and Verdun “Chum”.
It is difficult to capture the life of someone who has lived through 104 years of history and tremendous change.
Vi could do that because her memory was amazing and intact to the end. She could recall names, families and events in detail. Many hours were spent listening to her stories and learning about the early years of Bedford, when in her words it “was a pretty, friendly little village”.
Vi worked at Simpsons (later Sears) following school, before marriage and a family. She would travel the train back and forth to Halifax. Simpsons was appropriate because she always liked fashion and would say that she “was quite stylish”. She had quite a collection of hats and coats.
She loved to dance and recalls many trips to Green Acres Lodge in Waverley for Saturday night dances and dances at Sunnyside on the large outdoor dance platform. She would spend time on the Bedford waterfront, in front of a bonfire with her friends, singing and having fun, swimming in Bedford Basin in the summer (jumping from Admiral’s Rock) and skating in the winter, at a time when the basin would freeze and people would skate from as far away as Rockingham.
Vi, like many women of her generation, was a stay-at-home mom once she and Stan began their family. She took great pride in that responsibility, always maintaining a clean house and taking care of her family. She loved to cook and bake, famous for her Baked Beans, Mac & Cheese, tea biscuits and apple pies. Sunday family dinners became a tradition both at home in Bedford and at the cottage at Shorts Lake in Truro. She and Stan could often be seen taking evening walks in their High Street neighbourhood after dinner.
Vi was an avid reader, always with a book on the go. She would read the paper daily, from cover to cover and watch the nightly news so was always informed of current events. She would say that she was not good at socializing but could always carry a conversation.
As her health and mobility declined in recent years and she was no longer able to enjoy knitting, crocheting, reading or at times watching tv, she would still tune into any performances she could find of the Three Tenors, as well as Il Volo and Il Divo, Pavarotti and reruns of the Lawrence Welk Show.
Due to poor eyesight, her greatest pleasure was to have family sit with her and talk about the past. We gleaned a few new facts about Vi during those conversations!
Vi had a long run and a sharp mind throughout her journey. We have archived many of her stories for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. One of the oldest living residents of Bedford, Vi was interviewed by the Bedford Heritage Society, a few years ago in order for them to record her memories and some of the history of Bedford. She was loved and will be dearly missed.
Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Ettinger Funeral Home, Shubenacadie and Elmsdale. A graveside service will be held at 11 am Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at Brookside Cemetery, Bedford.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Tributes, words of comfort and memories of Violet may be shared with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Deborah Taylor. Deb came to Vi’s home every Wednesday for 10 years, initially to help with caregiving and chores, but then over the years they developed a deep friendship and those visits often were spent just sharing time together.