Jean (Burns) Erickson

Jean Erickson passed away peacefully on August 22, 2024 in Salmon Arm, BC with her family by her side. She was 94.

Jean was born in Sydney, Australia to Andrew and Mary Jane Burns. Jean was an avid reader, enjoyed pottery and weaving, travel, and was especially devoted to her family.

Jean was proud of her involvement with the Boy Scouts and being an Assistant Cubmaster in Pymble, NSW, Australia. She worked for an insurance company beginning when she was 16, and then the Orient Steam Navigation Company in Sydney until 1955 when she sailed to England.  The passage took a month. The ship stopped in Ceylon, and passed through the Suez Canal and Cairo, before Jean arrived in Britain. While in London, Jean continued working for the Orient Line, travelled in Europe by car and experienced as much as she could. A highlight she fondly remembered was an Afternoon Party in the Garden of Buckingham Palace attended by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Jean sewed the dress she wore for the occasion and had a flowered hat specially made. For most of her life Jean always made sure to listen to Her Majesty's Christmas address.

In late 1957, Jean flew to New York City with plans to return to Australia. She travelled to Vancouver, noticed a job advertisement and accepted a position with the Department of Public Works in Fort Nelson, BC. The first thing Jean needed when she stepped off the airplane in high heels was a pair of rubber boots, as the unpaved streets were full of mud. In Fort Nelson she met Leif, and 6 months later they eloped to be married in Edmonton. They were together for the next 60 years and had three children born in Fort Nelson. Jean quickly became part of the local community, taught kindergarten and was the town's first community librarian.

She and her family lived in Prince Rupert for three years and then moved to Merritt, BC. Jean worked for Statistics Canada for many years doing census and agricultural surveys, and also for the Thompson-Nicola Library System. Although Jean skied just once herself, she spent numerous days in the lodge at Tod Mountain reading, while her children, and later her grandson Siri and his friends, skied. She was a devoted chauffeur and support system for skiing, swim lessons, and all the activities she encouraged her family to be part of. She took pottery classes at Cariboo College, studied spinning and weaving in Kamloops, and was dedicated to learning as much as she could about the countless subjects that interested her.

Leif and Jean retired in 1991 and moved to a beautiful home in Anglemont overlooking Shuswap Lake. They visited Australia several times, with stops in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea. They also made several trips through the western USA, but were always happiest in their home surrounded by the forest and the cool lake temperatures. They spent hours looking at the lakeside views and the large number of birds that frequented the feeder outside their living room window. Despite her claim of not being able to walk well on snow, Jean snowshoed and was an energetic snow shoveler. She appeared small in stature, but had phenomenal energy and even at 92 was walking 2-3 miles per day. Her determination was a force to be reckoned with and often surprised many, even those of us who knew her well.

In 2015, Leif and Jean moved to Salmon Arm. They wanted to be closer to medical facilities for Leif, and driving so far to buy groceries and outside house maintenance was becoming more difficult. It was not easy for them to move from the lake and home they loved and into town. Jean was extremely loving to Leif, and in her late 80s was a full time caregiver for him during the last years of his life.

Jean is predeceased by her husband Leif (2017), and their daughter Andrea (2010). She is survived by her eldest son Terry (Helga) in San Francisco, Richard and his 3 children, Leif, Enrique and Estefania in Mexico, grandson Siri and his fiance Philamena in Vancouver, niece Pamela Burns (Fiona) in Australia, and nephew Allan Burns in Australia.

Jean's family would like to express love and appreciation to longtime family friends Floyd and Greta Forsch of Anglemont, Sandy McFarlane, Grace Bootsma, and Cathie Thompson, Indy and the staff at Shuswap Lake General Hospital.  We are deeply grateful to the many staff at Mt. Ida Mews, and especially those at Ortega who cared impeccably for Jean including during her final days. We did not know until recently just how many friends Mum made in the last months! We will continue to miss Jean in the days and years ahead and be inspired by her indomitable energy and spirit.