Ann LaBelle
Dec. 27, 1932 to April 5, 2005 (The Poppy Lady)
Ann was born Dec. 27, 1932 at 86 Robin Hood St., sub district of Nottingham North East, in the county of Nottingham.
She had her schooling in that area except time spent in air raid shelters because of bombing. A 14, she went to work as a machinist in a clothing factory (on her 14th birthday). She also worked in the office of a lumber merchant and in a photo studio.
Three months before her 18th birthday she joined the Women's Royal Air Force. During her four years service, she spent two years overseas in Egypt. This was in the Suez Canal Zone where Col. Nasser of Egypt was sinking ships in an attempt to close the canal.
In September, 1954, she took a job working for the RCAF at Station Langar. In June 1955, she attended a friend's wedding to which her husband-to-be, Norm, was also invited. They were introduced, and married on Dec. 29, 1955, at St. Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham. Sons Martin, 1957 and Mark, 1959, were born in England. The family left for Canada on Remembrance Day, 1959 and lived outside Montreal until May, 1961, when her husband was transferred to Fort Churchill, Manitoba. Daughter Kim was born there in 1961.
They transferred to Germany, and in 1965, her husband received his discharge and they moved to Maple Ridge (then called Haney), B.C. where Korall was born in 1966. In 1968, an opening came up at Clearwater Forest Camp, so they transferred there and have lived in the area since.
She thought of this valley as very beautiful place and has said many times that she wished to spend the rest of her life here, where her friends are.
She is survived by her husband, Norm, son Mark, daughters Kim and Korall, grandson Colin (in Ontario), granddaughters, Lori, Jolene, and Carmen, her sister Joyce and brother Jim (in England) and nephews and nieces, also in England. Eldest son Martin passed away in October, 1991. She is also pre-deceased by her parents and brother Ernie.