June 4, 1961 - February 10, 2021
It is with great sadness that the family of Lucille Hanscome (aka Ceil, Ms. H, or Hanscome) announce her passing on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at her home in Campbell River, BC.
She was 59 years of age. Lucille was predeceased by her parents and her brother Richard; she leaves behind her beloved children, and cherished cats, daughter Tristan (Christopher) and son Mason, beloved cats Sami and Luna, siblings Sharon, Eugene, Lynda, Beth, and Wilma, Tristan's "Soul Sister" Alayna, and countless friends and former students.
Lucille was the 6th of 7 children born to Marion Francis and Charles Wilmot Hanscome. She was born in New Brunswick, but grew up on Prince Edward Island, and when she left that little island, she decided she would never again schedule her life around a ferry. It must have been God's little irony that landed her on Vancouver Island, only to then see a bridge built to PEI!
Lucille loved growing up on PEI, and often told stories of horseback riding and running trail rides for her sister Lynda during the summers. Lucille was always a student who loved school, known for working hard at her studies. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of New Brunswick where she completed both a degree in Business and another in Education.
Throughout her university years, Lucille had summer jobs as a driver examiner, licensing new drivers and as a Government crop surveyor chatting to farmers about their work-both were jobs she loved.
However, as a teacher, Lucille found her calling in life. Teaching was Lucille's greatest passion, second only to her children, Tristan and Mason, both of whom she adored. Her first teaching job was in Northern Manitoba, in 1989, she followed her partner to Campbell River and began teaching at Southgate Secondary, then moving to Timberline Secondary when it opened in 1997.
Lucille often said that teaching was the perfect job for her; she valued every connection she made with colleagues, the scheduled holidays which allowed her to enjoy time with her kids and ocean swimming at Saratoga Beach, but most importantly, Lucille treasured the relationships she developed with her students.
Students felt like they had won the lottery when they were scheduled into Lucille's Mathematics classes. Ms. H, as she was known to them, instinctively knew how to reach even the most reluctant of her students and instill in them not only an appreciation for the importance of Mathematics, but also the confidence in which to succeed both in school and later in life.
Lucille started each class with an amusing story or anecdote about her children, the class sitting riveted waiting for the punchline. Her classroom doors were open every lunch time for any students wanting to eat their lunch or catch up on homework, and the room was always full. Of course, no one could forget "Candy Friday," a tradition that brought former students back to visit for years.
Without doubt, Lucille would like to say "You're Welcome" to all those students who are now thriving in their chosen careers, thanks to passing Math 11! Lucille loved the life and work of being a teacher of young people, from the very first day of teaching to her last. She often said that the worst thing about getting sick was being told she could never teach again, news which broke her heart.
The last few years were incredibly challenging for Lucille. Hospital stays, a double lung transplant, months of recovery, and then having to face the prospect of other organs damaged by the toxic medications she was required to take for rheumatoid arthritis and her transplant. She faced every hurdle and setback with the strength of a warrior, fighting through it all to stretch out her time with Tristan and Mason.
Lucille's life's mission was to see them both as adults with the skills needed to live a life without her in it. Lucille was the most selfless, generous, and compassionate person. She never stopped caring for or helping anyone who needed support, no matter how ill she felt. Lucille had a huge capacity for empathy; she found such joy if she was able to make someone else's day a little better.
As much as we will miss her, Lucille would surely want all of you whose lives she touched to know how much you meant to her. We know her hope would be that each of one of us appreciates and enjoys every day we are given...being grateful for the good ones, learning from the bad ones, and always practicing kindness.
Due to Covid-19, there will be no service at this time. Once it is safe to do so, we will have a memorial.