June 25, 2024 – Vernon, BC

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Eileen Clare Loewen (née Roberts), who left us peacefully on June 25, 2024, in Vernon, BC, surrounded by family. Born in Barrhead, Alberta, she lived a life marked by her love of family, humour, charity, and an insatiable zest for living and loving life.

Eileen was one of twelve children of William and Mary Roberts. The family moved to Revelstoke, BC, when Eileen was a teenager, and that was where she later met the love of her life, her “Mr. Everything,” Darrell. Not letting family strife interfere with their love story, Eileen and Darrell got married via an elopement. The evening of their wedding, they celebrated at the infamous Cave nightclub in Vancouver, where they were serenaded by Sonny and Cher with a rendition of “I Got You Babe,” dedicated to them, and were later invited backstage. Eileen often cited this night as one of the many highlights of her luminous life.

Eileen and Darrell moved to Salmon Arm, BC, where they owned and operated several businesses and had their three children, Dan, Dionne, and Kathryn. After raising their kids, Eileen and Darrell moved to Vernon, BC, where Eileen started what would be an outstanding career as a Realtor with Royal LePage for nearly 25 years from 1998 until her retirement in 2022. She consistently achieved the Director’s Platinum Award, won the Award of Excellence multiple times, and received Royal LePage’s highest distinction, the Lifetime Award of Excellence. Eileen was an astute businesswoman renowned for her honesty and integrity. Later in her career, she served on various task forces and committees for the BC Real Estate Association and the Association of Interior Realtors. Her work impacted many of the laws and regulations in practice in the real estate industry today.

Eileen was a lifelong patron of the arts and supporter of various charities and causes. She was generous both financially and with her time. She served as the President of the Shuswap Lake Hospital Auxiliary, where she was involved in various fundraising campaigns for medical equipment, including the hospital’s first fetal heart monitor, which would later be used to save her youngest daughter, Kathryn’s life at her birth. She served for many years on the board of the Okanagan Symphony and was a member of the Vernon Rotary Club. Eileen also donated quietly and inconspicuously. Often, the family would find out years later that Eileen had secretly sponsored a number of families in need in her local community, or had on several occasions compelled Darrell to discreetly slip away from their own family festivities to join her in serving a Christmas luncheon at the Salvation Army to the less fortunate.

Eileen loved to host events, dinner parties, and soirées. She was a social anchor in her community as well as the center of gravity for her large Irish-Italian family; the cherished matriarch of the Loewen-Roberts clan.

Eileen is survived by her husband Darrell, son Dan (Melissa), daughters Dionne and Kathryn (Nicole), her grandchildren Connor, Emily, Daniel, and Evelyn, and siblings Pat (Kathy), Maureen, Jimmy (Barb), Sheila, and Kevin; along with dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Eileen was predeceased by her mother and father, as well as sisters, Mary, Mona, and Theresa, and brothers, Bill, Ron, and Dennis.

Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 10178 Middleton Dr., Coldstream, BC, on Thursday, July 4, at 11 am with a reception at the church to follow.

A Prayer Vigil will be held the evening before, Wednesday, July 3, from 5pm- 7pm at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church.

The Loewen family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Vernon Jubilee Hospital for the kindness and compassion they showed Eileen during her time there. Rest in peace, our Mom, our Nana, our sister, our aunt, our friend. You will be forever in our hearts, and we’re so thankful that we had you, babe.

 

 

 

Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Pleasant Valley Funeral Home,

Phone: 250-542-4333

Condolences may be offered at www.pleasantvalleyfh.com