Arline "Rae" Agassiz passed away on April 25th, 2022.
In her final years, Rae had been a full care resident at Kamloops Seniors Village where she bravely fought the challenges of Alzheimer’s that had robbed our parents’ ability to live their final years together at home.
Rae was predeceased by her husband, John Agassiz, on Nov. 2, 2021 not long after John was reunited with Rae at Kamloops Seniors Village. Although short, it was the family’s great joy to be able to reunite our parents after 62 years of marriage and over 50 years of shared life together at the same family home they cherished on Dufferin Terrace. Rae is survived by her two sons Jay (Angel), and Rob (Carolyn), her grandchildren (whom she was all so proud of) Whitney, Vanessa, Julia, Hailey, Graham and Amanda, as well as eight great grandchildren.
Rae was an only child, born Arline “Rae” McMorran in Kamloops on August 17th, 1938 during a time when her parents were managing and ranching at the Gang Ranch west of Clinton. Her fascination and connection to the history of the legendary Gang Ranch in BC stayed with her throughout her life. Her family relocated to Kamloops, and Rae went to school at Kam High before being one of the first graduates of the Kamloops Nursing School located behind RIH at that time.
Rae met John Agassiz (the one love of her life) in Kamloops in 1958 while mom was finishing Nursing School and John was working towards a career on the Kamloops Fire Department. They were married in Kamloops in October of 1959 which was followed later by the births of their two sons. They moved their young family to Dufferin Terrace in 1968, a home they kept for the rest of their lives together.
Rae was a talented musician from a very young age and she loved to play piano in all types of genres. At 16 years of age, Rae was part of the legendary Kamloops High School Band, the only school band in North America invited to the 1954 World Music Festival in Kerkrade, Holland. Saxophone in hand, Rae, along with her school group, crossed Canada by rail and then crossed the Atlantic Ocean by ship on their way to winning not just one, but two World Championships in Europe! This was major news in Kamloops, and despite only being 16 at the time, this was a once in a lifetime adventure that Rae reminisced about her entire life.
Rae was not only talented; she was incredibly smart and accomplished at everything that took her interest. In her early years Mom was a proud, registered nurse working on various floors of RIH. She eventually retired to focus her time on caring for her family. She was a long-time member of both the Royal Inland Hospital and Ponderosa Lodge Woman’s Auxiliaries. Rae was an artist and craft extraordinaire, an amazing cook and baker, and could knit or needlepoint like no other. In retirement John would cut out multiple wood craft patterns that Rae had designed and hand painted, many purchased, and proudly displayed by families for every special season of the calendar year.
Rae was an accomplished skier in her younger years and the family enjoyed many years of season memberships at Kamloops area ski hills. Before dementia struggles, Rae, (with John) enjoyed their friendships with fellow Retired KFR Firefighters and their wives, their Dufferin Terrace neighbours, as well as many other lifelong friends they spent time with as a couple over their lifelong marriage. Late in life Rae and John had both become “super fans” of the Kamloops Blazers Hockey Club. They enjoyed many years as season ticket holders as well as were past members of the Blazers Booster Club volunteering and taking part in many road trips following the team.
Pre-dementia, Rae had aged pretty well. Free of any grey hair, Mom looked younger than her years. She loved colour, was a snazzy dresser, and took pride in her appearance. Rae had a strong will and was outspoken to a fault, but everyone loved and celebrated her for it. Rae loved her kids and was a supportive mother. She loved her daughter in laws, and was the absolute best Grandma. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and following all of their busy lives.
