Daphne Georgina Bray

Daphne Bray, aged 97 years, widow of Rev. Canon Ray Bray, died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of June 26, 2026. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

Daphne, eldest of two girls, was born to Frank and Mabel Gosling, in Colchester, Essex, England.

Daphne attended Colchester High School for girls. Her first employment was as a medical secretary for a local General Practioner. Through this work Daphne decided to become a State Registered Nurse and trained at the Middlesex Hospital in London, UK. After qualifying, Daphne added midwifery to her skills and worked with premature babies.

Whilst in training, she met Jean from Guernsey and they became life long friends. Together they decided to go to Canada for one year, as nurses were in demand. So in July, 1957 they left Southhampton, on board the S.S. Homeric and arrived in Quebec. Daphne first worked at the Toronto Hospital for sick children. She earned her Public Health Nurse Diploma and stayed in Canada to work various communities Kirkland Lake and Cooksville, Peel County in Ontario, Invermere and Cranbrook in B.C.

Some years later Daphne met Ray, her husband- to- be and they were married in Toronto in June of 1968. With Ray, as a Priest of the Anglican Church of Canada, she lived in Fernie, West Bank, Nelson and then in Salmon Arm from 1984 -1995.

For rest and recreation they travelled multiple times across Canada in their Boler, visiting Ray's family in Ontario.They were taken on an Alaska cruise by family from England and with them made several trips around B.C. and into Alberta in other years. They enjoyed hotpools and visiting little Museums, as both were interested in the history of communities they travelled through.

When Ray retired as a Priest in 1995, they moved to Enderby for several more years and attended St George's Anglican Church as parishioners. When time came to downsize they moved back to Salmon Arm and became residents of Andover Terrace Retirement Community. Lastly, each in turn needed more care and were moved to Mt Ida Mews where they were very well looked after. Daphne was widowed in 2021 and lived on for another five years until June 2026.

Daphne, a truly faithful and supportive wife, was often there in the background but was always present to help anyone nearby.

Pam Johnson wrote that “Daphne has a lovely personality, a delightful smile for everyone, and her expertise in teaching, playing the piano, reading the lessons etc. was much appreciated in the Church, Sunday School, Women's Guild Etc.”

Daphne's cousin Ann describes her as a “gentle, kind and loving and supportive person”

Daphne will be remembered by friends and clergy on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at St George's Anglican Church, Enderby, with a reception to follow. Her ashes will be interred beside her husband of 53 years, on July 10, 2026 in St Mary's cemetery, Sorrento B.C.

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