Obituary of Phyllis Bedell

Phyllis Bedell was born on July 1, 1918 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan; the first child of Frank and Alzada Gardiner. She started school there in1925 at a one room school in Tring. Phyllis attended high school at a two room school in Marwayne, Alberta halfway through grade 12 she moved there working part-time and going to school part time until she was able to graduate at age 17. She was quite the softball player during those years. In the fall of 1941 she went to Vegreville, Alberta to take her Registered Nurses training. After graduating from nurses training, in 1943, she went to Comox, Vancouver Island, Victoria and Cumberland where she nursed both privately and in hospitals until 1946. In 1946, while nursing in Cumberland, she journeyed north to Arras for a visit with her mother and step-father. It was there that she met Rod Bedell. In the spring of 1947, she left nursing and moved to Arras, B.C. to marry Rod and raise her family of 5 sons and 2 daughters. (John born in1948, Tom in 1949, Randy in 1952, twins Barb and Barrie in 1953, Mike in 1955 and Anne in 1957) Phyllis resided there on the farm until 2008 when, at the age of 90, she moved into Dawson Creek. Phyllis was involved in various organizations over her lifetime including: 4-H, Women's Institute, Tops, Bowling League and Nature Club. But with all of that, her priority was on spiritual matters including her involvement with the Peace Mission Chapel, various overseas missions, sponsorship of a missionary orphanage, Africa Inland Missions, and Bible Studies. Phyllis was an outspoken confident woman with enough love in her heart for her 7 children, 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, all of their spouses, an extended family of nieces and nephews, along with their families. But she didn`t stop there she included African families, neighbours, spiritual family, birder cohorts, and took them all under her wing. Phyllis passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2012 in Dawson Creek, at the age of 94 years. A funeral service was held on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 1:00 pm at the Peace Mission Chapel Progress, B.C. Pastor Lee Stephenson officiated; Phyllis was laid to rest beside her husband Rod in the Dawson Creek City Cemetery. The family would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation and thanks for the support to the following: All the staff ,nurses, doctors, and ,support workers at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital, Home Support Workers, care workers, Peace Mission Chapel, First Baptist Church, Reynar's Funeral Chapel, friends and neighbours. Phyllis leaves us to join her loving Husband and Friend; Rod Bedell and Brother; Barrie Gardiner. She will be forever remembered by those left behind Phyllis is the loving Mother of; John (Veronica) Bedell, Tom (Joan) Bedell, Randy (Julie) Bedell, Barb (Fred) Burres, Barrie (Joanne) Bedell, Mike (Lynne) Bedell, and Anne (Brad ) McDonald, Loving Sister of Marg Schmidt, Faye Dalziel , and Fred Gardiner, Loving Grandmother & Great Grandmother of Steven (Galia) Bedell Roderick, Lisa, Alex, and Tyler, Bryan Bedell, Anita Bedell (Greg), Jessica Bedell (Jesse)-Duncan, Megan (Cody) Reitsma, Ashley-Dawn (Tanner) Napier- Logan, Matthew (Jill) Burres - Blaire, Christy Burres (Chris), Lindsay (Matt) Spenner - Cadence , Keaton, Finlay, Pike, Bobbie-Jo (Rod) Whelpton - Emily, Brynne, Amber, Donavan, Kolby ,Lee (Courtney) Bedell, Erica (Tom) Krys- Riley, Dallas Bedell, Jenny (Kall) Cloarec-Tye, Kaylen, Tell, Becky Bedell - Asia, Macee, Brett McDonald (Tracy). For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Phyllis to the Peace Mission Chapel Box 100, Progress, BC V0C 2E0. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium