Beverly Jonina (Johnson) Drombolis

It is with heavy hearts that our family announces Bev’s unexpected passing on October 6, 2018 in Gibsons, BC. 
Bev was predeceased by her father Ken, her mother Jean (Catling) and her brother Ted.
Bev is survived by her beloved husband Gerry, her sons Nick (Laura) and Mike (Heidi) and her cherished granddaughter Adrianna, as well as her sisters Gayl Hutchison (George) and Sandy Surette (Ron) and her nephews Craig and Lance Hutchison (Michelle) and grand nieces and nephews Kyle, Kara, Kiley, Ashley, Sophia,  and Logan.

In lieu of flowers please forward donations to the Junior Golf Program at The Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club.

Beverly was born in Winnipeg and subsequently her family moved to Surrey where she attended Princess Margaret Junior Secondary, then graduated in Richmond, BC at Steveston Senior Secondary where she met her husband Gerry of 46 years.

Before moving to Port Alice she began her career at UBC in Administration. In 1975, after a big mudslide, the family moved to Gibsons where Bev continued to nurture her family and resumed her career. She joined School District No. 46, during which she was the Treasurer and sat as President of Cupe 801. Bev volunteered on many community committees from Gibsons to Sechelt. Throughout the years Bev contributed hand-knitted/crocheted pieces and adorable Teddy bears stuffed with love for friends and charity events. Towards retirement Bev took up golf with a passion, joining the Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club and visiting golf courses wherever travel took her. Bev was fiercely competitive, while embracing the camaraderie of both friends and acquaintances. On the course Bev honed her skill of the game where she never attributed her success to luck.

Outside of softball, bowling, curling and golf, Bev truly believed in luck. Luck, and her carefully-honed skill at the card table, often saw her opponent’s chips find their way stacked in front of her! An expert at finding an opportunity to take the hand ~ it really wasn’t a matter of chance because her head was always in the game.  Winning is all about seizing as many opportunities as possible ~ Bev did just that.

Bev was an extremely good-hearted person. At work she was generous of her knowledge. In the community she was generous of her time. With friends she was generous with laughs and her shoulder to cry on. Bev’s most treasured times were spent throughout the year during the holidays with her family, and friends who became family. She served up the best turkey and fixings and a selection of her delicious pies. Then there was Christmas ~ Christmas was a year-long event for Bev, never passing the perfect gift if she happened upon it. Stockings were always filled to the brim and if it didn’t fit in the stocking it was yet another gift wrapped-up and tagged under the tree.

Bev shared the deepest love and kindness a mother could give with her two sons, Nick and Mike. She didn’t stop parenting at “Please” and “Thank-you”. Bev listened and was interested in their interpretation of whatever the situation. She was their cheerleader, always encouraging them, if ever they had doubt or faced challenges making their own way in life. When congratulations were in order, you could hear Bev, over everyone else in the room, “That’s my son!” Should anyone threaten their safety or integrity, you met another Bev altogether. She was so proud of you and you.

Lois Wyse, author “Grandchildren are so much fun, I should have had them first”, said “Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation”. Bev nailed motherhood, but she was born to be Grandma. Adrianna brought a sweeter, slower presence in Bev’s life and filled her heart with pride and admiration of the woman Adrianna has become. Adrianna recharged Bev’s sense of adventure and playfulness. Bev loved to inspire Adrianna’s curiosity through the many bedtime stories that Bev remembered like yesterday. Bev never ran out of hugs or pickles.

Most of all, Bev loved Gerry. Mignon McLaughlin said, “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person”.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club on November 3rd at 1pm.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Beverly Jonina (Johnson) Drombolis, please visit our floral store.