Aylan-Parker (Alexander) Jean Mary

Jean Mary Aylan-Parker (nee Alexander) - 30 June, 1919 - 22 April, 2018

Jean was born at Bishopthorpe in Quebec City on 30 June, 1919. Her mother was Gertrude Alexander (nee Williams) and her Father was Brigadier General Ronald Okeden Alexander. Her grandfather, the Right Reverend Lennox Williams, 6th Anglican Bishop of Quebec, baptized her in the Tadoussac Chapel on 10 August, 1919.
While growing up, since her father was in the military, Jean moved constantly. She lived in Kingston, Winnipeg, and Toronto. In Montreal she attended Trafalgar School and graduated at 16, and then a “finishing school”, where she studied business. Jean was a brilliant woman with many talents; and she didn’t waste any of them. Of course, in this day and age, she would have continued her education at college or university. Not in those days.
One summer at Tadoussac while at Moulin a Baude for a picnic with Peggy Tindale, Billy Tindale and John Henderson, she was at the top of the waterfall to the east of the sand dunes. She slipped on a rock and over she went. She knocked out 5 teeth, broke her jaw, cracked her skull and had a few other sundry injuries. Since there was no medical staff in the town in those days, Jean was put aboard the Canada Steamship Cruise Line and taken up to Quebec City for repairs.
She was probably one of the last debutantes of our society and, as was common at the time, one summer she toured Europe with her mother. She was also very proud of her Quebec heritage and spoke French fluently at various points in her life.
Jean met John (Johnny) in the late 1930’s. Clive John Arthur Aylan-Parker was born in Lennoxville, Quebec on May 11, 1915. Upon graduating from Bishop’s University, he enlisted in the permanent forces of the Royal Canadian Regiment as a Lieutenant. Jean and John were married 18 November 1939 in Toronto by Bishop Williams just as the Second World War was beginning.
At the time, if you were a military officer, and war broke out, your wife could accompany you. Consequently, as most women and children in England were crossing to Canada, Jean took a boat to England. Her first and second sons were born in England. Ronald Edward (March 28 1941) and James John (June 9, 1943).
As the war was winding down, John suggested to Jean that she might want to go back to Canada before there was a huge rush when the war ended. Consequently, with the war still going on, and U-Boats in the Atlantic, Jean crossed the ocean with a 3-year-old, a 1-year-old and pregnant with a third and landed in Halifax. She then boarded a train (with the same 2 ½ children) and travelled right across Canada to stay with her mother and father, who just happened to live in Victoria, British Columbia. The third son, Edward Mears was born there on March 4, 1945. At the end of the war John joined Jean in Victoria and the group of five moved to Ontario.
Jean was very artistic. She played the piano, sang in the church choir, was very good at sketching and was accomplished in needlework. One of the kneelers here in this chapel was done by Jean.
Jean was blessed with a brilliant mind and a commitment to the betterment of society. Besides volunteering in her church and with Scouts Canada, she decided to learn Braille. Even though she was sighted, she became one of the leading transcribers for the CNIB. Besides books written in English, she also transcribed French, German and mathematics textbooks. Not stopping there, she began a group called the “Hand Highway” to support people with both a visual and hearing disability. She also precised in Braille, on a daily basis, a synopsis of the news garnered from the local newspaper.
In recognition of these contributions, Jean was awarded the Arthur Napier Magill Distinguished Service Award in 1983.
After Jean and John moved to St. Catharine’s in 1973, she also found time to volunteer at the local distress centre over a period of 11 years. Jean was honoured with the Mackenzie Chown-Robert Reinhart Award by the St. Catharine’s and District United Way for her distinguished service to the CNIB and the Distress Centre.
Jean died on 22 April, 2018 in Hamilton, Ontario. She was predeceased by her husband, Major John Aylan-Parker, her brother-in-law, Edward Mears Aylan-Parker, her father, Brig. Gen. Ronald Okeden Alexander, her mother Gertrude Alexander (Williams) and her two brothers Flight Lieutenant James Okeden and Ronald Lennox.
She leaves her eldest son, Ronald Edward Aylan-Parker (Barbara) of New Zealand, children Jennifer Jean, Jacqueline Beth and Alexandra Mary. Her second son, James John Aylan-Parker (Shirley) of Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, children Karen Michelle and Bradley James. And a third son Edward (Ted) and (Pamela) of Caledonia, Ontario, children Peter Edward and Christie Belle.
She was also blessed with 14 great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Caledonia, Ontario. Cremation took place and her ashes were interred in St. Catharine’s, Ontario beside her husband, John.

“Rest well thou good and faithful servant.”


Photos above
Jean
General Ron Alexander, Jim, Jean and Gertrude & ?
Jean and Jim
Jean, Jim and Gertrude in front of the old Brynhyfryd

Photos Below
Gertrude (Williams) Alexander, Lilybell Rhodes, Jean (Alexander) and John Aylan-Parker, Joan (Williams) Ballantyne, Nan (Wallace) Leggat, Mary (Williams) Wallace, Lennox Williams in front of the new Brynhyfryd
Jean and 2 of her boys in Tadoussac