PACKARD, Penelope Packard

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our mother, Penelope Packard, from this world to the next. She died on September 17, 2025, in Victoria, British Columbia.

Born in Cohasset, Massacheusetts, Penny was an inquisitive, determined and, from what we hear, sassy child. She grew up in New England, the daughter of Alice Elizabeth DouglassPeggs and Donald Stoodley Peggs DO.

She was sister to Elizabeth (George) Bates and Evalyn (Terrance) Economy, who preceded her in death. They were thick as thieves and twice as witty. In high school she met a young man, Keith Hall Packard, who would one day be her husband and who was unequivocally the love of her life. In her last few weeks, she spoke of him often as if he were right beside her and we have no doubt he is with her now. We are grateful that parents and sisters and spouse have been reunited in love.

Penny was a woman of service. From the time she graduated from the New England Baptist School of Nursing she served as a healer and comforter. Soon after beginning her career in Nursing she earned a B.Sc from the University of Miami where she met and married her first husband, Russell Owen Woody Jr. of Madison Heights Virginia, with whom she had two daughters: Luranah (Alasdair) Polson and Leona (Curtis) Strong. Upon her second marriage to Keith Packard, she became stepmom to Mike (Mary) Packard, Lynne (Richard) McMahon, Heather (Michael Lap) LaPointe, Andrew Packard and Amanda Packard. She was honoured to be Aunt to MacDonald Economy and his family.

Our mother was at her best when she was surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved them with her whole heart for who they were. She leaves behind Cameron (Bianca Farella) Polson, Duncan (Danielle) Polson and their sons Iver and Bodhrán, Lachlan (Olivia) Polson and their daughter Hadley, Spencer (Eva) Strong, Ammon Strong, Victoria Strong, Ethan (Cassie) Strong, Isaac Strong as well as Owen Packard, Melody (George) Gregory, Ryan (Arela) Mancinelli and their children Aran and Arya, Amber Packard, Stuart Packard, Jaime (Craig) Edison and their sons Cooper and Jake, Jenna Garey and Krista (Jason) Berquist and their children Hayden and Tenley.

Penny was an activist. She fought for women’s rights, integrated schools and fair housing. She worked in soup kitchens and food pantries and battered women’s shelters. Penny filled many leadership roles within medicine and expanded her education to become a Nurse Practitioner, with two Master’s degrees, one in Clinical Psychology and the other in Administration. She was a teacher, and in her last two decades served as a consultant for several hospitals, whipping one into shape before moving onto the next. Even during her last days in hospice she could be heard giving the doctors and nurses advice.

Our mother loved family and friends fiercely. She loved entertaining, cooking calzones and Christmas Crème Cookies (her specialty). She loved sunsets, but also every shade of beige imaginable. She loved making lists and was one of the few people we know who stuck to them. She loved pumpkin pie and chamber music and the simple act of polishing silver. She loved the smell of gardenias and yellow roses. She loved listening to her children and grandchildren chatter. She loved watching Keith in his shop. She loved a tumbler of Scotch and a good glass of wine. She loved riding in Grampy’s truck and eating fried clams at The Park Lunch. She loved reading about history and was passionate about politics. She apologized profusely to her grandchildren for leaving them such a chaotic world. Her favourite person was Keith, her favourite colour was blue, and her favourite cake was chocolate.

I think my mother would want to be remembered for her generosity and for her willingness to run toward danger, never away from it. She always had her grandchildren’s backs. She was a fighter but loved helping people in anyway she could. She was strong and resilient and had a great capacity to accept people on their own terms.

I like to think she passed some of these traits to her children, grands and greats. In this way she will live in us and never be forgotten.