Nancy's Obituary
Nancy de Candole passed away peacefully in Qualicum Beach, B. C. on Dec. 3, 2007. She was 96. She was the last member of her generation and was predeceased by her husband Corry, brothers Charles and Arthur and sisters Rachel Nash and Kathleen Luce. She is survived by her four children: daughters Janet Holt and Clare Bennett (Keith) and sons James and Richard (Wendy), Luce and de Candole nephews and nieces in the U.S., England, New Zealand, Kenya and Zimbabwe, nine grandchildren, nine great- grandchildren. Nancy was born to Richard and Mary Luce on April 25, 1911 in Derby, England. Her father was a medical doctor who during World War I served as the Director of Medical Services of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and later became a Member of the British Parliament. As a teenager Nancy attended Sandecotes School for Girls where she excelled in music. In 1931 she attended the Royal College of Music in London obtaining an A.R.M.C. in piano. While in London she met her husband Corry and they were married on Jan. 30, 1933 in Bombay where Corry received his first posting as a medical doctor with Royal Army Medical Corp. They returned to England in the late 1930s and immigrated to Canada in 1951 where Corry took positions as a physiologist with the Department of National Defence first at a research lab outside Medicine Hat, Alberta then in Toronto. In 1965 they retired to acreage outside Qualicum Beach where Nancy lived for over 40 years. Nancy taught piano for nearly 70 years and was an inspiration to many students. Many people were also touched by her Christian faith and generous heart. In the 1950s she became an Associate with the Sisters of St. John the Divine based in Toronto. In Qualicum Beach she was a long- time member of St. Mark's Church, founded an inter-denominational meditation group and was active in local peace and environment initiatives. She also served as pianist for the Parksville Community Choir. A memorial service will take place on Dec. 8 at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Qualicum Beach.
Published in The Globe and Mail on Dec. 5, 2007.
