Elsy Perks (nee Price)
September 10, 1923 to December 29, 2020
Mum/Granny/Elsy, at the grand age of 97, is at peace, passing away the way she had wanted – quickly and without suffering on Saltspring Island after returning home from a walk and while continuing to live independently.
Elsy was born in India and within months moved to settle on Saltspring Island with her family and grandparents (Wilkes). She was predeceased by her parents, Gussie (nee Wilkes) and Robert Price, and brother Kendrick, and is survived by her sons John (Julie) and David (Laura), her grandchildren Jamie, James, Ben and Will, and her nieces Helen Hutton, Marilyn Perks, Jonathan Jepson, Clarissa Bass, and great “niece” Diana Conner, as well as many dear friends both old and new, all of whom fulfilled and enriched her life.
Elsy lived a full, active and long life – she grew up and worked on the Saltspring Island family farm (Price Road) for her first 28 years, and also worked in the Saltspring Island telephone exchange (now the Switchboard Café). After WWII she left the Island, moving to Victoria and worked odd jobs and then at the Bank of Commerce. She married Raymond Perks in 1963 and together they built a home, started a small business (Perks Florist and Nursery) and raised their family.
Many fond and lasting family memories were made with month-long adventures, first on Joda (25’ sailboat) and then Mangarava (30’ sailboat) exploring Vancouver Island’s east coast. The adventures continued with trips to Asia with her befriended student borders, and then many southern winter Caribbean vacations/adventures with family creating even more fond and lasting memories.
Elsy moved back to Saltspring Island in 1995, built a new home at 310 Isabella Point Road, and then at age 79 built an addition and started up her next small business “The Garden Retreat B&B”. She “retired” in 2008 and moved to Brinkworthy where she kept busy creating a new home and garden, painting, crafting, volunteering, and socializing with many great friends.
Heartfelt thanks to Elsy’s many friends, and a special thanks to close friends Ilse, Francine, Neil and Debbie, and great “niece Diana” for their help and support to Elsy, and to Sylvia Walters who provided kind daily care over the past year and became a wonderful companion/friend – all your friendships, care and kindnesses filled Elsy’s life with joy and meaning, and helped her live the independent life she desired.
Cremation followed by a private ceremony with family and close friends will be held in the spring (Covid dependent).
Donations to the Salt Spring Island Historical Society or Salt Spring Island Painters Guild would honour Elsy’s memory.
What a beautiful person Elsy was. She attracted so many friends of all ages as she was interesting, creative, fun and young at heart. She told me once she only started feeling her age at 90. That was Elsy, such an inspiration to so many. I will miss our weekly chats about the old days on Salt Spring – I could listen for hours.
Soar high over Salt Spring Elsy, we’ll be seeing you xo