Johanna Jacobs passed away on May 9, 2023 at an amazing 96 years old. She loved all of us with her generous heart, listening ways and supportive nature. On Mum’s 93rd birthday, Ian picked a song for Mum by Ed Sheeran called “Thinking Out Loud” that talks about “Love, Understanding, and Positivity” as it describes Mum perfectly.

Mum has now re-united with the love of her life, our Dad. Over the last few years, Mum always asked to play their song “I can’t stop loving you” by Ray Charles. After this song ended, Mum would say “I loved that man.” Mum and Dad met in Germany on February 20, 1947, after WWII ended and were married in Germany on July 1, 1948. Mum moved to England with Dad, and later with two young boys, Steven and Ian, they moved to Toronto in June 1957 (via the first Queen Elizabeth to New York) and then to Vancouver with Karen and Leanne in 1968.

Mum’s favourite saying was “Life is what you make of it.” She lived this and her family were the beneficiaries of her calm demeanour and her sensible approach to life. She was accepting and supportive of our choices as we found our own way and always a voice of reason when you sought her wisdom. Mum was the cherished matriarch of our family. We have so many treasured memories, and she lives on in all of us.

When Dad passed away in 2011, we decorated his casket with memories and thank you messages from family and friends. To honour Mum, we will do the same. At a later date, our family will gather to spread Mum’s ashes with Dad and other family members under our Ottaburn Road tree that Mum grew from a seedling. This seedling is now about 25 feet tall on our Sunshine Coast property. Growing up on Ottaburn Road was the best, and this tree represents our family and friends.

To say thanks to Mum for all she has done, we played her “Grace and Gratitude” by Olivia Newton John — with a little bit of Engelbert Humperdinck (one of her favourite singers).

We love you, Mum.

In lieu of flowers, we are thankful for donations to support macular degeneration research. Mum went for eye treatments at the UBC Eye Care Centre for many years to try to save her vision.