Therese Dion, a woman whose life was marked by devotion to family, craft and convivial gatherings, died peacefully in Kelowna on July 23, 2026. She was 97 years old.
A life threaded through prairie and Pacific communities
Born Therese Paquette on June 28, 1929, in Debden, Saskatchewan, she was the youngest of twelve children. She married Ted Dion in Port Alberni in 1947. The couple raised three children — Jacqueline, Louis and Leo — while running businesses in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Later years found her in Nanaimo and Ladner before returning to British Columbia’s Interior where she spent her final days in Kelowna.
Family and creative life
Therese’s obituary paints a portrait of a woman for whom family and making things were central. She loved sewing for others, baking and hosting tea parties with her grandchildren, and she and Ted created stained glass over many years. She was also known for her annual pickled beets and tourtières — culinary traditions that underlined a life of hands-on care for kin.
- Survived by: daughter Jacqueline (Dwayne); sons Louis and Leo; grandchildren Michelle (Jason), Kerrie, Tina (Kevan), David, Chloe (Ian), Taylor (Josh), Remy (Shaggy) and Monique (Greg); and great-grandchildren Jonathan (Megan), Delaney, Matthew, Beckett, Ivy, Harper, Celeste, Freya and Bennett, as well as family friend Roy and his family.
- Predeceased by: husband Ted; daughters-in-law Judy and Darlene; and grandson Craig.
- Memories: family gatherings, a strong sense of humour, generosity, and a willingness to teach and entertain younger generations.
“She was a woman who loved family and fun and she created a life rich in memories and a legacy that will continue through the generations she left behind.”
Private farewells and thanks to caregivers
Family and friends are honouring Therese’s long life in their own ways; no formal service will be held. In their notice, daughters Michelle and Jacquie extended thanks to the staff at Cottonwoods for the kindness and care shown in her final days.
| Milestone | Date / Place |
|---|---|
| Born | June 28, 1929 — Debden, Saskatchewan |
| Married | 1947 — Port Alberni, British Columbia |
| Died | July 23, 2026 — Kelowna, British Columbia (aged 97) |
Therese’s life tracks with a generation of Canadians who moved across provinces for family, work and opportunity. Her journey from the prairies to B.C.’s coast and back to the Interior reflects the mobility of families following changing economic and personal needs through the mid-20th century and into the 21st.
For Kelowna residents, the announcement is a quiet reminder of the city’s growing population of seniors and the networks of care and family that surround them. The family’s acknowledgement of Cottonwoods — the long-term care residence where Therese spent her final days — underscores the role of such facilities in providing end-of-life care for older adults who have longstanding ties to the community.
Therese will be remembered by relatives and friends for a ready laugh, her competitive love of games and the way she made craft and hospitality part of everyday life. Though there will be no public memorial, her legacy continues among the many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will carry forward the traditions she cherished.
Family members asked that those who wish to honour her memory do so in private and by recalling the stories and recipes she passed along.
