Gillian Margaret Hewitt

Gillian Hewitt passed away on February 5, 2026, after a courageous six-year battle with cancer. Born on May 6, 1948, in Bolton, England, she will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, teacher, volunteer, writer, and friend whose warmth, determination, and quick wit touched many lives.

Gillian shared 34 years of marriage with her beloved husband, Tim Hewitt. She was a proud and loving mother to Adam and Graham Boothby, a caring and supportive stepmother to Annie and Christine Hewitt, and a much-loved mother-in-law to Leo. She is also survived by her brother, Steven Sargeant.

For three decades, Gillian worked as a high school teacher in Ontario, earning the respect of colleagues and students alike through her dedication, encouragement, and steady presence. Earlier in her life she coached gymnastics, reflecting a lifelong commitment to health and activity. At age 40, she challenged herself to run the Toronto Marathon, finishing an impressive sixth among more than 700 participants in her age group. She continued to enjoy an active lifestyle throughout her years, particularly tennis, cycling, and swimming. On her 70th birthday, she marked the occasion by swimming 70 lengths of the Revelstoke pool – an achievement that captured her determination and spirit.

After retiring from teaching, Gillian combined her love of writing and history by founding Keepsake Memoirs, a business through which she wrote biographies that preserved personal and family stories for others.

In 2007, Gillian and Tim moved to Revelstoke for the opening of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. She quickly became an active and valued member of the community. Known affectionately as the “costume queen,” she volunteered countless hours designing and sewing costumes for local musical productions, including Shrek, Chicago, The Sound of Music, and many others.

Gillian also served for more than a decade on the board of the Revelstoke Museum and Archives, contributing her time, energy, and writing talent to projects that preserved and shared the region’s history.

She shared a love of travel and adventure, often heading south during the winter to destinations such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Hawaii, and Greece. She also embraced motorcycle journeys across North America, Europe, and New Zealand.

Gillian will be remembered for her compassion, steadfast support of others, wry sense of humour, and the genuine care she showed to friends, family, and community alike. She leaves behind a legacy of service, curiosity, and generosity that will be deeply missed and warmly remembered.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Mount Cartier Court for the care, kindness, and support they provided to Gillian.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gillian’s memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.