Grace (Welke) Higgins

Grace passed away at Nanaimo Palliative Care Unit on May 15, 2019.

She is survived by her husband Greg, daughter Sherri (Kerry) Meservia, son David and grandson Dylan Meservia.  Brothers Grant (Donna) Welke, Roy Welke (deceased 1967) Allan (Judy) Welke, and sisters Karen (Jack) Myers, Corinne (Dan) Patterson, Gayle (Joe) Zerr, Joy (Barry) DeVocht and all their families.

Grace was born in Langenburg, Saskatchewan on April 26, 1948 to Frank and Adela Welke.  Grace was the youngest of four children and her mom died when she was an infant.  During her childhood she spent time with loving aunts, uncles and was a little sister to her cousin Beverly Mensch until her dad was able to reunite them all as a family.  Grace was six when she joined her dad, second mom, Isabel, and the rest of her siblings at their home in Langenburg.  Soon after, Grace became a big sister to four more siblings.  After high school Grace worked at the Fort San Tuberculosis centre in Fort Qu’Appelle then spent seven years in Regina working as a manager at Eatons. In the summer of 1974, she embarked on a new adventure as a cook at a fishing camp in Northern Saskatchewan where her love of cooking began.  While there she met the young and handsome Greg Higgins and soon became an “Island Girl”.  Grace and Greg were married November 12, 1976 in Nanaimo, B.C.  Grace had been a bridesmaid 13 times so the wedding was very small much to the dismay of everyone! Greg and Grace worked in the hospitality industry and managed many different properties over the years.

Sherri was born on March 21, 1980 and David on August 4, 1982. Grace loved being a mom.  Their life was very busy with two little helpers who grew up in the business. Grace took on whatever jobs needed to be done always supporting Greg in whatever endeavours he took on. Grace became a very good organizer as they moved 23 times.  She loved people and large family gatherings were a regular part of life.  She always had a puzzle on the go and loved meeting with her S & B girls.  Grace wore her heart on her sleeve, cried when she was happy and sad.  Her quiet stubbornness and perseverance helped her through her struggles with cancer and all of life’s challenges.

She loved Island life but made many trips back to Saskatchewan where the people and the places held a special place in her heart.

Grandson Dylan was born in 2008 and added a new dimension…Grandma Grace. Dylan had her wrapped around his little finger and brought a new and special joy to her full life.

Grace was loved and cherished as a wife, mother, grandma, sister, aunt and friend. She touched us all, each of us in different ways. Let us carry that with us as we make our way without her.

“I am a part of all that I have touched and all that has touched me.”

There will be an afternoon reception at Beach Acres Resort in Parksville on Saturday, June 15 from 1:00 to 4:00.

Please no flowers by request.

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