In Memory of
Valerie
Meredith (Jinks)
Meredith (Jinks)
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Colchester Community Funeral Home
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Obituary for Valerie Meredith (Jinks)
Meredith, Valerie - Age 83, Highland Village, passed away peacefully on September 1st, 2020. Born in Manchester, England on February 12th, 1937 to the late Joseph Bretton Jinks and Florence (Pott) Jinks.
Valerie is survived by her sons, Stanley (Lori),Highland Village and Richard (Cindy), Highland Village; daughters, Rosemary (Mark),Highland Village and Valerie, Highland Village; grandchildren, Tom (Jaime), Matthew, Christine, Andrew, Megan, David, Renée, Mitchell, Olivia, Valene, and Roger; great grandchildren, Brenton and Paul, Tierney, Conlinn, and Finnigan, Kaycee and Benjamin, Jordan, and Danika and Sahara. Besides her parents, Valerie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Tom, and her eldest son, Griffith Thomas. To her family, Valerie was always known as Mum or Granny. She was the definition of these words, providing love and support to every one of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Mum’s compassionate and caring nature started at a young age. Mum grew up at Toplock House along the Manchester canals. It was there that Mum cared for a wide variety of pets, including a cat that she rescued from the canal, countless guinea pigs and chickens and her beloved pony, Tommy. Mum also enjoyed vacationing at her uncle’s farm where she would help with the milking.
Mum’s caring and compassionate nature combined with her deep love of animals and farming led her to Reaseheath Agricultural School in Cheshire, England. It was there that Mum met her sweet Tom and became his “girl in the mist”. Just one of the many beautiful tales from their life together.
Upon completing her studies, Mum married her sweet Tom and together they formed a loving and dedicated team for the next 63 years. Their married life began at Great Leys Farm in Shobdon, Herefordshire, England. Together, they operated a mixed farm and started their family of five children. Mum was never one to complain about work. Her days on the farm were spent tending the cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs, baking fruitcakes, and making lemon curd for local sale. She would often smile and reminisce of many tales from their early years together.
In 1969, Mum and Dad’s adventurous souls brought them to Highland Village, Nova Scotia. It was here that they purchased the Geddes Farm and continued their love of farming. Shortly after their move, they began their farrow to finish pig farm that also produced a wide variety of grains. In later years, poultry became their focus. Mum loved and took pride in telling people that they were the “Home of the Happy Hens”. As a continuation of the family farm, The Farm Gate Shop was opened in 2002. It was Mum’s pride and joy. Being in the shop and talking to her customers brought Mum great joy every single day. Many of these customers became her dear friends and she often knew what they wanted before they did.
Mum also enjoyed numerous adventures and past times with Dad including participating in a variety of wine tasting societies, afternoons out birdwatching, late nights watching snooker, and traveling to lesser known Caribbean Islands. It was on these islands that they relished snorkeling in the warm blue waters and strolling hand in hand on moon lit beaches.
Mum had many passions and interests. She loved to capture the beauty of birds through paint on various materials. Whether it be on gardening tools, cutting boards, rocks, paper or wood, her paintings were always incredible. Several of these paintings are hanging in the homes of her children and grandchildren where they will be cherished and enjoyed for years to come. Mum was an extraordinary baker and cook. The kitchen was always filled with the sweet and alluring smells of her baked goods and home cooked meals. Mum could turn anything into a meal, including the wide variety of game that her sons would bring home from their hunting adventures. These talents will forever be preserved throughout the generations in a family recipe book that was handwritten by Mum and Dad.
Then there was Mum’s incredible green thumb. Her ability to care for and grow healthy and beautiful plants amazed many. In later years, Mum’s pride and joy was her extensive orchid collection. Several of which were gifts from her loving family members. She took great pride in having them rebloom multiple times and loved to pass on tips to beginning orchid enthusiasts. Mum loved arranging flowers as well and would delight in arranging and displaying the various bouquets brought to her by her family. Her skills earned her ribbons and six name engravings on the McNally Cup for Arrangements from the Great Village Garden Club Flower Show.
Mum played a vast and important role in the lives of her grandchildren, who will always remember her as their sweet and loving Granny. Granny was a fountain of knowledge and was always willing to pass this knowledge on to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When visiting with Granny you often encountered a “little job” that could be done. These “little jobs” could be anything from tidying flower beds and trimming bushes to painting walls and laying carpet. Each “little job” created a special memory, as it was all time spent with Granny.
Mum loved spending time with her family. Nothing meant more to her than caring for each and every one of us. Whether it was cooking a family meal, baking her unsurpassable brown bread or her daily calls to make sure all was well in our worlds, Mum was always there.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Karen Ewing. Dr. Ewing not only provided exceptional care and support to Mum but was also a dear friend. The family would also like to express a sincere thank you to Dr. McKenney, the attending doctors and nurses at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre and to Todd MacKinnon and staff of Bayside Pharmacy.
Cremation has taken place and at Mum’s request, there will be no service. Donations in Mum’s memory can be made to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.
Mum, as your loving and adventurous soul now wanders a new path with Dad, may you know how much you were loved and will continue to be loved and appreciated for all that you were and all that you did. You will never be gone Mum. You will live on in all our hearts. Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro, NS. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ColchesterCommunity.com
Valerie is survived by her sons, Stanley (Lori),Highland Village and Richard (Cindy), Highland Village; daughters, Rosemary (Mark),Highland Village and Valerie, Highland Village; grandchildren, Tom (Jaime), Matthew, Christine, Andrew, Megan, David, Renée, Mitchell, Olivia, Valene, and Roger; great grandchildren, Brenton and Paul, Tierney, Conlinn, and Finnigan, Kaycee and Benjamin, Jordan, and Danika and Sahara. Besides her parents, Valerie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Tom, and her eldest son, Griffith Thomas. To her family, Valerie was always known as Mum or Granny. She was the definition of these words, providing love and support to every one of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Mum’s compassionate and caring nature started at a young age. Mum grew up at Toplock House along the Manchester canals. It was there that Mum cared for a wide variety of pets, including a cat that she rescued from the canal, countless guinea pigs and chickens and her beloved pony, Tommy. Mum also enjoyed vacationing at her uncle’s farm where she would help with the milking.
Mum’s caring and compassionate nature combined with her deep love of animals and farming led her to Reaseheath Agricultural School in Cheshire, England. It was there that Mum met her sweet Tom and became his “girl in the mist”. Just one of the many beautiful tales from their life together.
Upon completing her studies, Mum married her sweet Tom and together they formed a loving and dedicated team for the next 63 years. Their married life began at Great Leys Farm in Shobdon, Herefordshire, England. Together, they operated a mixed farm and started their family of five children. Mum was never one to complain about work. Her days on the farm were spent tending the cows, sheep, chickens, and pigs, baking fruitcakes, and making lemon curd for local sale. She would often smile and reminisce of many tales from their early years together.
In 1969, Mum and Dad’s adventurous souls brought them to Highland Village, Nova Scotia. It was here that they purchased the Geddes Farm and continued their love of farming. Shortly after their move, they began their farrow to finish pig farm that also produced a wide variety of grains. In later years, poultry became their focus. Mum loved and took pride in telling people that they were the “Home of the Happy Hens”. As a continuation of the family farm, The Farm Gate Shop was opened in 2002. It was Mum’s pride and joy. Being in the shop and talking to her customers brought Mum great joy every single day. Many of these customers became her dear friends and she often knew what they wanted before they did.
Mum also enjoyed numerous adventures and past times with Dad including participating in a variety of wine tasting societies, afternoons out birdwatching, late nights watching snooker, and traveling to lesser known Caribbean Islands. It was on these islands that they relished snorkeling in the warm blue waters and strolling hand in hand on moon lit beaches.
Mum had many passions and interests. She loved to capture the beauty of birds through paint on various materials. Whether it be on gardening tools, cutting boards, rocks, paper or wood, her paintings were always incredible. Several of these paintings are hanging in the homes of her children and grandchildren where they will be cherished and enjoyed for years to come. Mum was an extraordinary baker and cook. The kitchen was always filled with the sweet and alluring smells of her baked goods and home cooked meals. Mum could turn anything into a meal, including the wide variety of game that her sons would bring home from their hunting adventures. These talents will forever be preserved throughout the generations in a family recipe book that was handwritten by Mum and Dad.
Then there was Mum’s incredible green thumb. Her ability to care for and grow healthy and beautiful plants amazed many. In later years, Mum’s pride and joy was her extensive orchid collection. Several of which were gifts from her loving family members. She took great pride in having them rebloom multiple times and loved to pass on tips to beginning orchid enthusiasts. Mum loved arranging flowers as well and would delight in arranging and displaying the various bouquets brought to her by her family. Her skills earned her ribbons and six name engravings on the McNally Cup for Arrangements from the Great Village Garden Club Flower Show.
Mum played a vast and important role in the lives of her grandchildren, who will always remember her as their sweet and loving Granny. Granny was a fountain of knowledge and was always willing to pass this knowledge on to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When visiting with Granny you often encountered a “little job” that could be done. These “little jobs” could be anything from tidying flower beds and trimming bushes to painting walls and laying carpet. Each “little job” created a special memory, as it was all time spent with Granny.
Mum loved spending time with her family. Nothing meant more to her than caring for each and every one of us. Whether it was cooking a family meal, baking her unsurpassable brown bread or her daily calls to make sure all was well in our worlds, Mum was always there.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Karen Ewing. Dr. Ewing not only provided exceptional care and support to Mum but was also a dear friend. The family would also like to express a sincere thank you to Dr. McKenney, the attending doctors and nurses at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre and to Todd MacKinnon and staff of Bayside Pharmacy.
Cremation has taken place and at Mum’s request, there will be no service. Donations in Mum’s memory can be made to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.
Mum, as your loving and adventurous soul now wanders a new path with Dad, may you know how much you were loved and will continue to be loved and appreciated for all that you were and all that you did. You will never be gone Mum. You will live on in all our hearts. Arrangements have been entrusted to Colchester Community Funeral Home, 512 Willow St., Truro, NS. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.ColchesterCommunity.com