Bernice Smith

EVANS, Bernice Kathleen

Mar 3, 1935 – Dec 17, 2018

Bernice Kathleen Evans (Hulbert) Bernice Kathleen Evans, beloved wife and dearest friend of John Hulbert, died on 17 December 2018, from a sudden and unanticipated illness, while on holiday in Vancouver. Surviving her are her sons, Bruce Evans and Ross Evans; her grandchildren, Jesse Evans and Amanda Gaudet-Evans; her nieces, Carol-Ann Jones (with Ron, Laura, Lisa and Natalie), Lorna Howieson and Laureen Howieson; and cousins Marion Marsden and Mel Humphries. Bernice is deeply mourned by John’s family – John’s sisters, Audrey Harland (with son Gary) and Jane Moody (with daughter Maggie); John’s sons Guy (with Julie ), Michael (with Roseanne) and Paul; John’s grandchildren, Andrew (with Avril), Laila (with Ori), Stuart and Frances; and John and Bernice’s great granddaughter Agnes Anne. She was loved by everyone who knew her. Bernice was the younger daughter of the late Gladys Harbour and the late William Dudley Ward Smith and was born in Montreal on 3 March 1935. On graduating from high school Bernice became a bank teller and with her incisive memory, her facility with numbers and her natural management skills she rose rapidly to senior teller and subsequently became manager of Scotia Bank’s overnight interbank clearing house in Montreal. In 1979, she moved with her growing family to Ottawa, where she joined CIBC’s small business payroll service for the Ottawa/St. Lawrence valley. Later she moved to Ceridian with the payroll group, and at the pinnacle of her career in payroll services was senior account manager responsible for the installation of an upgraded payroll system for Canada Post Corporation. In 2005, following the break-up of her marriage, she moved to a condominium. There she met John Hulbert while both were volunteering on the condo Social Committee. She became Chair of the Social Committee and with her customary energy inspired a team of eager helpers to revolutionise the social program. Concurrently she became Secretary/Treasurer and later President of the West End Duffers Golf Club. From Spring 2009, she and John enjoyed a busy and happy life together, collaborating in their individual volunteer activities, and travelling together worldwide. In 2013 she spent much energy in the preparation for a cruise around New Zealand and Australia, which culminated in their marriage on 28 February 2014, outdoors in the summer sunshine in the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. She was an enthusiastic fan of the Valleymen choir and of the Ottawa Carleton Male Choir in both of which John sang as a tenor. As a keen and active member of the Nepean Seniors Recreational Centre she founded the Creative Crafters Group which has provided thousands of hours of collaborative craft work for its happy members and thousands of dollars to support the work of the Centre. Bernice herself was an expert and diligent quilter. Bernice will be sadly missed by the many friends she loved and kept busy. She is truly irreplaceable. Friends may call at Garden Chapel of Tubman Funeral Homes, 3440 Richmond Rd, Nepean (between Bayshore & Baseline) on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from 10-11 am followed by a Celebration of Life in the chapel at 11am.