Obituary of Daphne Gabrielle Letts

Daphne Huyton, our beloved mother, nanny, sister, and friend of 89 years, passed away peacefully early Saturday morning on October 2nd, 2010 at Holyrood Manor .Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the loving care she received in the hands of the devoted staff for the past six years. A bright light to all who knew her, Daphne was born on Feb. 12, 1921 in London , England , the eldest of two children. She was a war-bride, married in 1940 toThomas Huyton, an Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, and in 1944 immigrated to Canada with their two small daughters, settling in Tom’s hometown of London, Ontario where she excelled as a homemaker and wife. This vast new land appealed to her pioneering heart and sense of adventure, and she completely embraced Canada as her new home. She enjoyed the challenge and excitement of travel and did so frequently with her family during their child-rearing years, living in various parts of Canada. Resourceful and active, Daphne made the most of every situation. She did so by gardening , canning, farming, sewing and knitting, practicalities that grew into hobbies she enjoyed. She shared her skills and provided a home for many foster children. Daphne was outgoing and friendly and made friends easily and often, regularly bumping into acquaintances wherever she went. After thirty-three years of marriage, Daphne became widowed, and she worked as a nurse’s aide and travelled to Britain and New Zealand to reunite with relatives.Youthful at 60, Daphne took up swimming, hiking and cross-country skiing, a reminder to all of us of her vivacious passion for life. In 1988 Daphne married Peter Letts, and they moved to a remote area of the Kootenays. Isolated from family, Daphne’s health deteriorated and she was brought to Maple Ridge to be cared for by family . Daphne is survived by four children, Gabrielle Marcano (Lance), James Huyton (Seija), Michael Huyton (Clara), and Penny Bichard (Steve) and 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren and will be remembered for her attentiveness and caring nature both as a mother and a grandmother. Besides her estranged husband Peter, she is further survived by her younger sister Marguerite Payne (Peter), other relatives and many friends . In addition to her parents and husband Tom she was preceded in death by her daughter Angela Packman (John), and grandson James and granddaughters Tammy and Senchara. In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still, in our hearts you will remain forever. Rest in peace. Love from family members. A Memorial Service will be held on October 18 at 1pm at Garden Hill Funeral home , 11765 – 224th Street, Maple Ridge, B.C. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Holyrood Manor, 22710 Holyrood Avenue, Maple Ridge, BC, V2X 3E6 >