Obituary of Jean Eileen Bygrave

Jean Eileen (Brinded) Bygrave, 94, Valley View Villa, Riverton, formerly of New Glasgow and Norwich, England, passed away peacefully, Saturday, February 24, 2024, in the Villa with her family by her side.

Born in Freethorpe in the county of Norfolk, England, on September 29, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Helen Brinded. After graduation from high school, Jean joined The Norwich Union Life Insurance Company where she met her future husband and love of her life, Peter.  Following her tenure at Norwich Union, she began her own secretarial services business and was well-known in Norwich for her exceptional skills in preparing a variety of documents for professional journals, university dissertations and other documents.

Jean and Peter enjoyed many vacations in Europe. Following retirement, they emigrated to Canada on April 4, 1988, and proudly became Canadian citizens. They pleasantly settled into life in Pictou County and enjoyed vacationing throughout North America.  Jean enjoyed many hobbies and pastimes, including, needlepoint and cross-stitch, bird watching and had spent endless hours gardening.  Her gardens were a splendour to see and often attracted strangers to stop and enjoy her work.

Surviving are her son, Stephen (Carolyn) Bygrave, Little Harbour.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Peter Ivor Bygrave; brother, Raymond Brinded.  

Stephen and Carolyn wish to acknowledge the incredibly high level of love, compassion and care shown to Jean by all the nurses and continuing care assistants; the recreation, kitchen, laundry, housekeeping, and maintenance staff; and all the support staff and management of Valley View Villa.  They also wish to thank the management and staff of Swiss Chalet, New Glasgow, where Jean and Peter dined regularly and were shown such warmth and friendship.

 In keeping with Jean’s wishes, her family will celebrate her life privately. 

Donations may be made in Jean’s memory to the Valley View Villa Recreation Department.