November 9, 1933 – December 24, 2022
December 24th, we lost a beautiful angel, our mom, our mama, our grama, and our GG, Wilma Rose Tjorhom. She left this world to join the love of her life, our dad, Arnold who left us this past August 5th. She leaves an amazing legacy of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Her six children: Sandy (Gil), Arlene (Gary), Anita (Landis), Debbie (Tom), Alan (Tracey), and Patricia (Arnie). She was Grandma to sixteen grandchildren Reg, Kim, Zara, Kyla, Ashley, Devon, Jordan, Joel, Ellice, Emily, Carmen, Nikki, Stephanie, Amber, Carey, and Dusty and thirteen great-grandchildren Alison, Kyle, Ethan, Lincoln, Cody, Addy, Elijah, Hartley, Grady, Gracie, Ana Belle, Katelyn, and Jaxon.
Born on Nov 9, 1933, Mom had a wonderful childhood with her mom and dad, Emily and Arthur Vansickle and brother Robert. Mom was raised in Lantzville in the family home on the corner of Harper and Lantzville Road.
Mom met her Knight in shining armour when she was 12. They met at a “Spin the bottle” game at a school friend’s house and they were together ever after.
Mom and Dad married in 1951 and shortly after moved to Cedar to start their lives together with dad as a teacher and mom as his biggest supporter. It was here that they started their family of 6 children…5 girls and one boy.
From Cedar, Mom and Dad moved to Vancouver Bay with Dad teaching at a one-roomed school and mom who took on her huge role as a stay-at-home wife and mother. A role mom excelled in, she guided us and was our sounding board and confidant.
Mom always said that Vancouver Bay was her very special place, her most favorite home….she and dad built a life they were so proud of.
Mom and Dad were a team, no decision was made without each of them talking and contributing to the solution. Mom’s support allowed dad to pursue his career and excel while her strength as a mom permitted her six children to grow and build their own lives.
From Vancouver Bay, Mom, with Dad, moved our young family of 5 to the Sunshine Coast, first near Madeira Park and Garden Bay and then on to Kleindale. While here mom enrolled us in swimming classes, curled our hair in rags to make ringlets, cooked ‘down home’ meals and became the best bread maker anywhere!
Our home, because of mom, became the central place for Kids’ get-togethers, birthday parties, and sleepovers. It was the favorite place to hang out or at least the starting point for our childhood activities.
This continued when they later moved back to Lantzville, back to mom and Dad’s starting place.
Mom’s love of gardening was shared with many of us and every home we had blossomed with flowers and healthy vegetables.
Over her many years, Mom enjoyed hunting trips with Dad, fishing off the Lantzville coast, babysitting her many grandchildren, playing bingo and supporting dad in all his endeavours.
And did we mention her avid following of the Blue Jays and Canucks…such a sports fan!
It is so hard to wrap up an amazing woman in such few words. Her love for us, her guidance, her ear when we needed someone to listen, and her wisdom when we needed direction, will be missed beyond words.
We have a space in our hearts that cannot be filled but we have memories that can never be diminished.
We love you Mom…..rest now with Dad.
The family of Wilma Rose Tjorhom would like to invite you to the service of their Mom, Grandma, and GG to celebrate a long and wonderful life lived. Bring your stories and your memories to share with us.
A Celebration of Life will be held on March 24th at 1 p.m. First Memorial Funeral Services, 1720 Bowen Road, Nanaimo.