Jean Clarke, a long-time supporter of the Sunshine Coast and its Community Foundation has died at age 92 of age-related complications.
Clarke was a passionate advocate of children and families. Her work with the Gibsons Parent Tot program was legendary. For more than 30 years, she and sister Pauline Webber, known to many as Pop, provided music and song to multi-generations of families in Gibsons and area.
Vicki Dobbyn, executive director with the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, the organization that provides the parent and tot program, said the society was fortunate to have Clarke and her sister as inspiration and entertainment for Gibsons' families for that many years.
"We've been so blessed to have them for over 30 years. They were kind of an institution. It was such a pleasure for the parents and their children to see these two sisters just beaming with joy every morning. They so love children and that really came across," Dobbyn recalled.
"Jean had an amazing sense of humour. It was a delight to see the playfulness between her and Pop."
Dobbyn remarked how important volunteerism was in the Gibsons' woman's life. Clarke came to the parent and tot program as a senior and stayed until her health caused her to step down two years ago.
Liz Woolford, one of the workers with the parent and tot program and also a mom who brought her daughter to the program prior to working there, has fond memories of Clarke's stories.
"Everyone adored Jean. She was really proud of her first four kids and always talked about what a blessing her youngest son, Andrew was. She just loved kids, her own and everyone else's," Woolford shared.
Clarke's contribution to the Coast didn't end there. She was a long-time member of the Gibsons chapter of Hospital Auxiliary. For many years, Clarke was a fixture at meetings and fundraising events for the auxiliary. Never empty-handed, Clarke was an avid knitter, baker and cook. Many lucky residents were the recipients of socks, huge loaves of bread and her raspberry jam.
A United Church life member, Clarke was a member of the choir for many years.
A talented musician blessed with a beautiful soprano voice, Clarke turned down an opportunity to train as an opera singer because her greatest desire was to be a mom.
In 2000 Clarke and Webber were honoured as Golden Girls for their contributions to Gibsons, the first and only sisters so designated.
In 2006 she established the Jean and Arthur Clarke Endowment with the Sun-shine Coast Community Foundation. She wanted to leave a legacy that would go on serving the families of the Sunshine Coast. Clarke was happy, she said, to have the ability to help those who would need it in years to come.
"I have everything I need, so why wouldn't I help others?" she said at the time.
Clarke leaves to mourn her sisters, Pauline and Liz, her children, Joe, Betsy, Bert, Peter and Andrew, many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a large community of surrogate grandchildren and their parents.
A memorial service is planned for Feb. 25, 1 p.m. at Gibsons United Church. In lieu of flowers donations to the endowment are requested.
