PEERLESS, P. Darlene

Of Kentville, Kings Co., beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Darlene Peerless passed away peacefully with family at her side in Valley Regional Hospital just a few minutes after midnight on March 26, 2020. Few people know that Darlene conquered many serious health issues over the past 27 years but she was not to survive this latest one. Darlene and her family are very happy that she is no longer suffering in any way and that she is surely with the Lord Jesus in Heaven. Darlene’s Christian Faith was always very strong. She came to Nova Scotia from White Rock, B.C., in 1993 and, along with her husband, James "Jim", and children Aaron and Anika, set about restoring Wickwire House on Main Street in Kentville in order to open that historic house as a bed and breakfast. The family hosted many guests from all over the world during their time at Wickwire House, including Countess Mountbatten when she stayed in Kentville for an annual PPCLI gathering. Largely due to Darlene’s ideas and vision, the family won awards for their restoration of Wickwire House. Darlene was a private person, yet strong of personality and undeniably outgoing, friendly, generous and loving. She made many friends in her lifetime, young and old, who will be saddened by her passing. Darlene was born in Penticton, B.C., in 1950. She attended elementary school in the tiny gold mining town of Hedley and then moved to Nanoose Bay on Vancouver Island and then to Nanaimo where she attended high school. She met her husband, Jim, a commercial pilot, at the Nanaimo Airport at age 18. They married in Nanaimo in 1973 and settled in Tsawwassen, B.C. Darlene worked as a crew member aboard assorted British Columbia Ferry vessels for a few years and travelled extensively with her flying husband in those years. Darlene also learned to fly during that time. When children arrived Darlene was the solid anchor for her family as the children grew up and her airline pilot husband went away for a good portion of each month. The family moved to a beautiful home near White Rock in South Surrey and lived there for seven years prior to moving to Nova Scotia. Darlene helped with teaching at White Rock Christian Academy when the children attended that school. She was very talented at many of her favourite hobbies including home decorating, photography, sewing, quilting, painting and golf (she had a great drive). Her fun-loving, adventurous spirit would show itself often and perhaps when least expected e.g. she rappelled into a Yucatan cenote when no other family member or friend in attendance that day had the courage to do so! Darlene greatly valued supporting children through Compassion Canada for over 45 years. For the last number of years Darlene organized the "Golf Fore the Cure" tournament at the Island Green Golf Club to raise funds for breast cancer research. She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Lucille Guderyan of White Rock, B.C.; husband, James "Jim"; son, Aaron (Jaimie); daughter, Anika (David); and grandchildren, Rowan and Jordyn; brother, Garry (Belle) of Nanaimo, B.C.; sister, Karen of Cedar, B.C.; sister, Diana (Jim) of Kamloops, B.C. Darlene did not want a funeral but she requests that we celebrate her life in some way. The family will organize that in the coming months. In lieu of any flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Compassion Canada or the Canadian Cancer Society in Nova Scotia. The family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care she received in our health system, especially that experienced with respect to Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville. From the paramedics needed at times over the years to her GPS and their office staff including Dr. Verrynstuart (now retired) and Dr. White, to the ER doctors on duty at various times and hospital doctors Gallant, Wightman, Cwajna and Williams (Halifax), Mulherin, Merryweather, Broaders, and Burgess (including her palliative team), to the nurses, technicians and catering staff we say "Thank Your" for caring for our Darlene and for us! Your daily tasks are challenging enough without the added concern from COVID-19 but you accommodated Darlene’s needs to a remarkable degree right up to the time of her passing and even beyond. Cremation has taken place with White Family Funeral Home in Kentville.

Mom P. is asleep in Jesus.