Person

Lew, Violet Sui Lien

• 廖瑞蓮

• Lew, Sui Lien
• Lew Wong, Violet
• Wong, Violet Linda

1923-2019

Violet Lew was born LEW Sui Lien on December 27, 1923 in Nanaimo, B.C.

Over her 95+ years, Violet lived in various locales/towns throughout British Columbia and established a vast network of friends along the way. Her infectious personality, empathy, depth of talent, and creativity, along with her pursuit of joy and connection, remained the common thread throughout her lifetime. But it would be her strong will and determination that would prove to be the foundation of her being.

Married in 1952 and bearing her only child, Edmond, the following year, Violet soon found herself a single mother due to unforeseen circumstances. An anomaly for its time, an undaunted Violet started up and successfully operated Nicola Drycleaners in Vancouver’s west end in 1954. In 1960, she sold her business and with her new partner and her son left Vancouver and moved north to a remote location in the Chilcotin region.

Whether she was ice fishing for rainbow trout in Puntzi Mountain, working at Northern Drycleaners in Fort St. John, playing in a cribbage tournament in Prince George, cooking delicious meals for family and friends, playing mah jong in Vancouver, or doing volunteer work in North Vancouver, Violet’s endearing qualities and diverse talents shone through.

Violet never owned a computer or mobile phone. If she wanted to communicate with anyone, she would use her landline phone or write them a card or letter.

She made it a point to remember birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. Her artistic and creative gifts were reflected in the many projects she took on. From painting, to re-upholstering furniture, to sewing outfits for friends and family, to knitting slipper-socks for children. She had tremendous patience and perseverance as evidenced by the countless puzzles, word-search challenges and Sudoku’s she enjoyed in her retirement years.

If a picture tells a thousand words, Violet would say a photo does the same. So, when she purchased her Kodak box camera back in the day, her passion for photography began. Her large collection of photo albums show a story of a life filled with love, joy, connection, inclusion, and an abundance of laughter. Her positive demeanor was infectious and spread wherever she went and impacted whomever she encountered.

In the early 2000s, Violet’s journey came full circle when she returned to the Lower Mainland to reside in North Vancouver, where she remained until her final days. Her pilgrimage through British Columbia was over. She would now focus on reconnecting with family and friends she had left so many years prior while working on attracting new friends into her ever-expanding network.

She passed away in North Vancouver, B.C. on July 8, 2019.

Hoy, Moy (1900-1973)

Description supplied by collector/curator