Mary "Lee" (Tomchuk) Fraser

Mary Lee Fraser (nee Tomchuk), 1933-2026

Lee Fraser, 93 years wise, of Vernon, British Columbia, passed away peacefully at Vernon Jubilee Hospital on Friday 21 August 2026, in the loving company of close family, who all miss her desperately and remember her most fondly.

Mary Lee Tomchuk was born on 03 January 1933, at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, to Marie Tomchuk. Lee lived her early years in Vancouver, where she was placed from infancy with the kind Leary family. Lee attended the local Catholic elementary school, educated by nuns.

In Grade 3, on a rare snowy Vancouver day, the generous lady that had occasionally visited since first memory, declared herself to be Lee’s mother. After Grade 8, Lee was glad to be taken into her mother’s care. Then known as Mae Lee Santini, as her mother had married into the surname, Lee spent her teen summers in Salmon Arm, living at leisure in her mom’s Avon Hotel. It was during those easy Shuswap summers that she got to know a local boy named Bill Fraser. During high school, Lee boarded at St. Anne’s in Nanaimo.

After graduation, she went on to nursing school at St. Joseph’s hospital in Victoria, being then named Mary Lee Allen. In town one day, by chance she met Bill Fraser, who was wearing a sharp military uniform. He was an officer cadet at Royal Roads Military College, also in Victoria. One thing led to another, and on 15 September 1956, gorgeous Lee married handsome Bill at Saints Peter & Paul RC church in Vancouver, in a ceremony with full military honors. It was their first day as Bill and Lee Fraser, partners for life.

Lee began working as a nurse at Campbell River hospital, before shifting to St. Paul’s in Vancouver, serving at the same hospital in which she had been born, while Bill finished his degrees and trained to be a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot. Then, just as she was becoming a young mother of two baby children, Lee also began an entire career of moving house and home every three or four years, according to Bill’s military postings.

She crisscrossed the map; from the far west of Comox on Vancouver Island, way east to Metz, France; from Edmonton, Alberta, in the frosty north, south to steaming St. Louis, Missouri, with points in between too many to list. Through it all, Lee was the center of her nomadic family, using her hands and her heart to give them everything she had.

When Bill switched to civil aviation in 1979, Lee enjoyed some good years in Calgary, helping her son and daughter get on their feet and start their adult lives. Then, Lee once again followed Bill’s career path to barely sub-arctic Fort McMurray, Alberta, where they spent 6 pleasant years, until Bill retired in 1994.

Lee and Bill had their ideal house built in Salmon Arm, and themselves renovated their longtime cottage at Frasers’ Beach. Then, they settled into a relaxed and gentle 25 years of receiving guests. Lee had the satisfaction of seeing her children show up with new grandchildren, who went on to introduce some great-grandkids.

Lee was inspired to research an extensive family tree, copies of which were received with immense gratitude, as an invaluable forward-reaching contribution to clan history.

For much of Lee’s life, she was a traveler of one kind or another. During her summers while living in France, she and family launched on long road trips, camping between the capitols of Europe. Lee proved herself a logistical genius, fully understanding Napoleon’s saying that ‘an army marches on its stomach.’ There were never any complaints about the food! In later years, Lee joined her mom on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. In their mid-70’s, Lee and Bill went on a self-guided visit to Scotland. For 14 years, Lee and Bill drove to the Quilchena Hotel for an annual gathering of friends.

Still, Lee’s favorite thing in life was sitting with an early morning coffee on the deck at her cottage, watching the sun sparkle off the deep blue of Shuswap Lake.

In their mid-80’s, Lee and Bill were starting to feel a bit creaky, and in 2018 they elected to move into assisted living in Vernon, where they continued to offer a warm welcome to any and all visiting family and friends.

Lee had mobility issues, and gradually needed more help, which was gallantly provided by Bill, who was developing health concerns of his own. Entering their 90’s, Lee and Bill used iron willpower and cleverly choreographed teamwork to remain independent and stay together as long as humanly possible.

Lee made her final move, to hospital, in late June of this year. When she told her family “I won’t be going home,” it felt like the great life force was turning a page.

So, on a blue-sky summer day, in a halo of love, surrounded by many of the important people of her life, and having made her spiritual peace, Lee raised a cup of her favorite apple cider in a toast to life. Then, she left us in the most dignified way anyone could hope for.

Long predeceased by her mother, Lee is survived by Bill, her eternally dedicated husband of 70 years; son Collin; daughter Shannon, and her nieces Linda, Tannis and Pam. Lee was proud of her grand-daughters Jordana, Kate, Victoria, Tiffany, Emma, and Lois; her great-grand-daughters, Berkeley, Adria, Marlow and Millie, plus four-day-old Farien, and her great-grandsons Hayse and Koden.

Lee’s passing leaves a deep hollow in the souls of all who knew her. Through tears, we treasure every memory of her; no-one less than me, her son. Farewell, Mom.