Welcome to What We Remember, our reader-submitted obituary series. Submit your story for next Sunday’s installment here.
Mollie Ford, 105
A kiss in your pocket
At every goodbye, Mollie blew a kiss and said, “Put it in your pocket.” She knew it was important to hold onto love.
Orphaned as a baby in England, Mollie was separated from her siblings and then raised in Kenya as an only child. At 21, she learned she was adopted. It didn’t change Mollie’s love for her parents. During World War II, she bravely sang to students in bomb shelters when sirens sounded.
Mollie kept her love quiet for years, until she married Frank. In 1953, they immigrated to Canada, where Mollie lovingly raised three boys and retired to Gabriola Island.
After losing Frank, Mollie lived alone. She read books, organized bazaars, and drove her Mazda until she turned 100. She celebrated her last Mother’s Day at 105, then died, her son’s hand in hers.
Our pockets carry years of Mollie’s kisses, holding onto her love.
Marjorie Kathleen Ford was a knitter, pianist, and bird and deer feeder. She died May 11 in Nanaimo, British Columbia. — By her daughter-in-law Kathryn MacDonell
Bruce Brown, 70
The spirit of Bondi Beach
Bruce Brown carried the spirit of Bondi Beach wherever he went. He was bright, bold and funny, always ready for the next adventure.
Born and raised on the Australian coast, he brought warmth and laughter into every room. As a pastry chef, he cared for people through food and knew the joy of making people feel welcome.
Bruce turned ordinary moments into unforgettable stories, whether chasing a Star Wars stormtrooper for a photo at Disneyland, gathering friends for mischief or riding his motorcycle naked across Canada simply to feel the wind. He had a gift for making friends feel truly chosen.
His life with his husband, Jeff Meade, stood at the heart of that circle of love. Through illness, Bruce remained determined, lively, and unmistakably himself. He fought hard, kept showing up, and refused to let struggle define him.
Bruce Andrew Brown was a pastry chef. He died Aug. 16 in Palm Springs, California. — By his friend Russell Long
Vangie Jaggard, 77
The ideal mother-in-law
Vangie Jaggard was the best mother-in-law, friend and supporter a wife could hope for. In her quiet, inquisitive manner she pressed her son as to why he was taking so long to propose. During covid, she would send us money for a big delivered meal as we were parenting two under-3-year-olds. She listened. She honored. She poured out love. And she did that for every person she met. She asked about them, prayed for them and cared for them. She sent flowers to friends with dementia, she sent cards to every niece and nephew, and she sent checks to schools just to enable activities.
Vangie’s stated goal in life was to make sure others felt loved. They did, even if they only met her once. We did, from texts, prayers and calls. I did, just by knowing she had my back.
Evangeline Alice (Grunow) Jaggard was a nurse, gardener and philanthropist. She died April 16 in Philadelphia. — By her daughter-in-law Debby Jaggard
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The Post is publishing reader-submitted obituaries as part of a weekly feature, What We Remember.
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