Ailsa Margaret (Jenny) Ransom (née Hipkin)

Jenny Ransom was born December 27, 1949 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, to Henry and Jean Hipkin and grew up in the small farming town of Tweespruit. In 1969 she and Tony met while at college, quickly fell deeply in love, and went on to spend 54 wonderful married years together as partners in life, love, travel, lots of adventure, and especially, family.

Jenny was a loving mother to Andrew (Karryn) and David (Anna), and a proud, adoring grandmother to Nicola, Rachael, Isabel, and James. She absolutely delighted in her grandchildren and was immensely proud of the incredible young adults they have become.

Jenny started her career as a school teacher in South Africa. However, life soon gave her a much larger classroom where she dedicated her life to her family as Tony’s career moved them around the world. While raising their two boys, Jenny kept the whole family operation running with warmth, efficiency, humour, and the occasional firm instruction, when required. In 1982, the family was transferred to Canada, landing first in Yellowknife, where warm South African sunshine met the cold Arctic air. After several moves through Canadian and U.S. cities, Jenny and Tony eventually retired and settled in Nanoose Bay in 2000, where they built their dream home and thoroughly enjoyed a life full-to-bursting with friends, community, family visits, and plenty of social activity.

She was a tireless volunteer, community supporter, and all-around organizer of events, people and good causes. Over the past 26 years, Jenny gave generously of her time and energy to the Probus Club of Nanoose Bay, Grandmothers to Grandmothers Oceanside (part of the Steven Lewis Foundation) and Nanoose Community Services, among many others. If something needed sewing, arranging, feeding, hosting, coordinating, or gently nudging into shape, Jenny was somewhere nearby making it happen. Jenny was the social convenor extraordinaire. Family gatherings, bridge, dinners, costume parties, celebrations, far-flung family reunions - any excuse to bring people together - Jenny loved it all. She had a gift for creating occasions filled with fine food and wine, great company, exciting stories, and laughter.

As an avid squash and tennis player, more recently shifting to golf, Jenny definitely knew how to play. Whether it was on the court, the course, beating her sons or grandkids at cribbage or partnering with Tony in the mysteries and conventions of bridge, Jenny brought the same spirit to the game that she brought to life: competitive enough to keep things interesting, gracious enough to make everyone feel welcome, and always ready for the next hand.

Throughout her life, nature and animals were one of her strongest passions. Famous for her lush and colourful flower gardens, Jenny was always seeking out wildlife and beauty in nature. Jenny’s canine companions held a very special place in her heart. Over the years, Suzie, Nugget, Miss Moggins, Tasha, Mickey, Thabo, and Charlie kept her company at home, brought joy and mischief into her days, and helped keep her active on long walks through the forest — one of her most favourite places to be.

Jenny's unexpected passing on June 2, 2026 leaves behind a gigantic hole for her beloved husband Tony, her sons and daughters-in-law, her much-adored grandchildren, and a wide circle of family and friends, all of whom adored her right back. She will be missed more than words can express, and remembered with love, laughter, muddy forest trails, and a well-shuffled deck of cards.