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Jyl Chegwin
September 14, 1962 - June 15, 2014
Tribute
It is with deep sorrow we announce the death of Jyl Lesley Chegwin on June 15, 2014 at her residence at Cawston, B.C. Jyl was born on September 14, 1962 in Swan River, MB to loving parents Jim and Mearle (Diamond) Chegwin, mixed farmers in the Big Woody district. She did her schooling in the valley, was active in 4H, curling, gymnastics, and the Swan Valley School Band. She established many close friendships with a core group of about 10 girl-friends and an interesting string of boyfriends.
Jyl went on to Olds College, AB where she took a 2 year program in horticulture. Her professional life was based on agriculture with work for BC Forestry Services and then with her life centering around Cloverdale Produce Farms and Tim Singh, she became a founding member of the Fraser Valley Direct Marketing Association. Circle Farm Tours also took much of her time and then, realizing the importance of farm diversification, she became a founding director of the BC Agri Tourism Alliance (BCATA). She worked teaching best practices and oversaw the provincial highway signs program to indicate Agri-tourism. She became a vocal member and supporter of the North American Farmer’s Direct Marketing Assoc. (NAFDMA). Jyl had a gift for speaking to farmers and leading them into new farm practices through diversifying their income streams. Jyl became one of the first auditors for the Environmental Farm Plan and she was respected in these organizations because she was a farmer, intelligent and very charming too. Jyl helped to initiate the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Snack program. This program provides snacks of locally grown fruits and vegetables to school across BC. Jyl’s final off vineyard professional years were with Terra Links/Roddicks managing the distribution of farm supplies and selling seed to large scale farmers.
Jyl considered her home in New Westminster BC and Thee VineGlass Winery and Renewal Resort one of her greatest professional and personal achievements. She and Roger have dreamed, planned, and built a resort area, vineyard and winery with much persistence and hard work. They have been joined in this effort by amazing friends who consider it a pleasure to come and do a hard days work followed by great wine and pizza.
Sons, Clayton and Kai were uppermost in Jyl’s thoughts. She planned her life around their activities, sports, and celebrated their every achievement. She threw the best birthday parties for them with food, fun and an unlimited amount of guests. Jyl’s love for her boys was without limit or reservation.
Roger brought his family into Jyl’s circle with parents Gerry and Lynda, brothers Bert, David, Norman, sisters Joanne and Karen as well as their spouses and many children. But for Jyl, his children Dionne and Gerry were most important and she welcomed them into her life with open arms. A year and a half ago, Dionne and Darren made Roger and Jyl grandparents, a role she was more than happy to fulfill. Gerry has been a wonderful extra son doting on Jyl’s every wish.
Her gifts of friendship, love and generosity meant know one was turned away from Jyl’s table. Her pies are legendary! Good food, fun and crokinole have again made Jyl’s circle of friends grow. Jyl could walk into a crowd of people knowing no one and leave as a friend to all. Jyl gave of herself freely to everyone and accomplished so much after her diagnosis. Her children all are on their career paths, she met Kai and Clay’s significant others, traveled to Italy one more time, drank the wine from the fruit they grew, had paying guests in the suites they developed and built. Jyl had one unfulfilled dream and that was to ride an elephant. Jyl will finally rest in an elephant shaped urn and be at peace.
Jyl leaves Roger Hol to cherish her memory, sons Clayton and Kai Singh, sisters Heather (Tom) Orlukiewicz and Lyn Crane (Hammie Hamilton), brothers Ross (Keta Lehto) and Cal Chegwin, Step-children, Gerry and Dionne (Darren Hart), granddaughter, Kaliyah, Uncle Bill Chegwin, Marlene and Amanda Primrose, Gerry Sr. and Lynda Hol and extended family.
Jyl struggled with brain cancer and her determined vision was to find a cure. We invite you to make a donation to “Quest for the Cure” through CIBC 07560 – 0064130 or Janice at the VineGlass 778-809-6717.
Bring a crokinole board if you have one. See you on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 2:00 at the VineGlass. Interment of Jyl’s ashes will take place at Fairdale Cemetery in Big Woody, Swan River, MB Aug 9 2014. Details will follow.
Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com
Condolences
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From: Bonnie Matwick
Relation: Dear friend from childhood
My name is Bonnie, and Jyl and I have known each other since we attended Heyes Elementary School just a few short years ago in Swan River, Manitoba. Jyl and I were bus students – both grew up on mixed farms just miles apart! Right from an early age Jyl loved the farm, the river, the treehouse – she loved life and taught those who were around her how to celebrate it! I loved going to Jyl’s to visit with her family – we worked, ate, talked, laughed, got into trouble and always made a memory or two!
Moving right along, we are now in Grade 7, fresh new band students who were given a fantastic opportunity to practice hard and audition for Europe! Jyl and I both made the band, and were roommates when we were billeted in Holland. When Jyl made friends, they were usually for life, and this was the case with Jan (pronounced YAWN) and his family. They attended our weddings, put us up and entertained us when we crashed Europe later on. I don’t know if we’ve ever told him that we weren’t sure of the difference between the dryer and the commode in 1976 and we may have used the wrong one!
High school, well Jyl being the bolder of us, would date guys first, then I would wait a month or two when Jyl was done with them and see how I fared!! Jyl and I were also really active with band, service clubs at school, intramurals (Big Woody vs Swan River, Minitonas and other communities) ours was a regional high school.
Couldn’t skip high school years without mentioning Whitefish Lake! Jyl and I had many great times there – with boys, and our families! Canoeing, fishing, swimming, waterskiing, drinking, enjoying campfires and marshmallows. It is still one of our favourite areas in the valley!
Wasn’t long after high school, I decided to get married, having met my husband at college. (We both met our first husbands at college and were blessed to have children.)
Mearle and Jyl wanted to give me a bridal shower with all our high school buddies and a few others – on the FARM (which is where Jyl’s wedding took place.) So even though the mosquitoes were thick that summer of 1983, my shower happened at the Chegwin farm in a TENT! We had a blast! Jyl always had ideas and ways to make things fun! Basically if she wanted something – it happened.
The next thing I knew Jyl was visiting our apartment in Edmonton with Tim and we were “polka – ing” at the Big Woody Hall at their wedding.
Time doesn’t stand still, and the next few years were a blur for both of us, Jyl working immensely hard on the farm, raising two boys, being an excellent wife and if you’ve read Jyl’s official story, you know she got involved with more organizations and people than any of us could imagine! I would come over to visit Jyl and we barely had a minute to catch up. Her life was definitely run at a breakneck speed! I remember her working outside, selling stuff, comforting the boys, serving me ice tea, organizing a fabulous dinner, sitting to eat it with me, then bathing the boys, reading stories, enjoying half a glass of wine, then going to the office to do paperwork until 1 a.m. The next day while I was lollygagging in bed at 8, she would have been up at 6, making breakfast, organizing people and jobs, making lists, etc. You could never say that any dust grew on Jyl – she created a whirlwind around her! In her short 51 and a half years, she probably lived closer to 80! Jyl’s attitudes and perspectives were larger than life!
A few more years went by, and I think she learned through a very special person how to juggle some hard work, AND have some fun! Thank you Roger, for sharing your dream with Jyl, and for taking such good care of her during these past few years.
I will always miss and love Jyl, she is a very special person and I am most grateful for the opportunity to grow up with her. Jyl you are now in heaven, sharing smiles, laughter and fun with Grandma Chegwin, Mearle and Jim, my dad Tony and many others. It is so wonderful that this break is just a short time for us, and that if we have the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, we know we will be reunited. I want to give you all my favourite Bible verse – Zephaniah 3:17 in honour of Jyl.
Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
and delight you with his songs.
I believe with all my heart, God has called you back to Him, and He is delighted to have you, as we all were on earth. I’m crying now, so it’s time to stop. Until we meet again, my dear friend. Hugs and kisses.
Your childhood friend, Bonnie Stupak Matwick
From: Pat and Sharon Hyde
Relation: Relationship - How did you know the deceased?
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jyl. She will truly be missed by so many. She had the best smile that would always make you feel welcome and she genuinely cared about the people in her life. We only knew Jyl for less than ten years but in that short time it was easy to see that she was one of the special peoples. When I was going through my cancer treatments, she was always enquiring and concerned about how I was doing even as she was battling her own cancer. Having her to talk to meant so much to me and our talks truly helped me get through my tough times. She even lent me a long red wig (not that I ever actually wore it, it was radically different than my own hair was) but her generosity touched me. Thank you for being you Jyl, we miss you already.
From: pat, wendy and xtian taff
Relation: friends
when i was compelled to buy our little paper, i was deeply saddened by the loss of this wonderful lady. I first met Jyl at the forest service way back in the late 70s . Her then husband Tim and boys Clayton and Kai became fast friends as Xtian went to school with the boys and Jyl and Tim were the same age as my daughter Tamara and her husband Tim, there was a lot of fun times and happy memories to be had with this close bunch, from the bar-b-ques to the halloween parties to the corn maze to the classes she had at cloverdale produce , so many many memories. Our hearts go out to all of the family and extended family Roger Hol and his and Jyls okanagan family and Tim Clayton and Kai and her Cloverdale family she was a powerhouse to be recond with a loving mother sister daughter wife companion and friend, she will be missed
From: Carrie Risley (Harris)
Relation: High school friend from Swan River
Very sad to hear of Jyl’s passing. Jyl and Roger where in Winnipeg last Spring and she made a special effort as always to visit old friends. Us girls in high school would laugh so hard that our sides would hurt. We all had fun and Jyl was always happy or laughing. She was a special lady with lots of ability and tons of energy. She will be so missed. My deepest sympathies to all the family.
From: Sharon Satz
Relation: Part of the group of 10- High school
Deepest condolences on Jyls passing. I have many fond memories from high school of the great times we had together. And over the years Jyl made a point of keeping in touch, organizing several of the high school reunions, and reaching out to visit whenever she made it to winnipeg. Jyl: you will be missed very much. Sharon, Ron, wyatt and Skylar
From: just a friend
Relation: life long friend
I miss you… we miss you
for ever yours
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
Date & Time:
June 21, 2014
Beginning at 2:00pm
Location:
Thee VineGlass
306 Sumac Road
Cawston, BC Canada V0X 1C3
Bring a crokinole board if you have one. See you on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 2:00 at the VineGlass. Interment of Jyl’s ashes will take place at Fairdale Cemetery in Big Woody, Swan River, MB Aug 9 2014. Details will follow.
306 Sumac Road
Cawston, BC Canada V0X 1C3
Memorial Gifts
Memorial donations will be gratefully accepted to:
Jyl struggled with brain cancer and her determined vision was to find a cure. We invite you to make a donation to “Quest for the Cure” through CIBC 07560 – 0064130 or Janice at the VineGlass 778-809-6717.
Thank You Notice
Send Flowers
Flower Fantasy Flowers & Gifts Inc.
6049 Main Street, Oliver, BC
https://www.flowerfantasyoliver.com/
Local: (250) 498-0088 Toll free: (844) 498-0088
Flowers on Main & Reis Boutique
5859 Main Street, Oliver, BC
https://www.oliverflorist.com/
Local: (778) 439-2270 Toll free: (800) 665-9983
Gems and Stems at Eastside
6496 Park Drive, Oliver, BC
https://gemsandstems.com/
(250) 826-0438
Polka Dot Door Floral Design Boutique
8522 Main Street, Osoyoos, BC
https://www.polkadotdoor.net/
(250) 495-2226
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