March 31, 1954 – February 26, 2023
It Is with profound sadness that the Bell and Mirka families announce the death of Jerry Bell, loving father, grandfather, companion, brother, and friend. After an extremely intense and immensely courageous battle with bone cancer, Jerry died peacefully on February 26th, at Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current SK with his closest friend and companion of 37 years at his side.
Jerry was born and raised in Victoria BC. Jerry worked for Budget Rent-a-Car for 12 years, having worked his way up to Manager of Trucks Division from his start as a teenage car washer. He then worked 20 years for Juan de Fuca Hospitals, his last several years spent as Supervisor of Cleaning Division. When Jerry turned 50 he decided to move to Ponteix SK to join his long-time friend and companion, Diane. They made their home there for the last 18 years of his life.
Jerry was a man of few words and quiet ways who greatly enjoyed FaceTime with his son, daughter-in-law, and young grandkids, laughing at their antics in the pictures and videos he received between his much-anticipated yearly visits with them in Victoria BC each spring. He will be remembered for his quick wit, his kindness, his generosity, his loyalty and for his utter devotion to Peanut, his little pup for 16 years.
Jerry was a man of keen intellect and deep perception who held a variety of interests. He was an excellent chess player and an avid snooker fan, often rising in the wee hours to watch his favourite player compete in live international tournaments happening at inconvenient times. But chief among his interests was his fascination with Astrophysics and Astronomy. On a clear night Jerry could usually be found outside with his electronic telescope and tripod studying the movements of the planets and stars. He spent hundreds of hours in online research and in documenting his observations and sharing those via YouTube videos which brought him to the attention of a group of professional Astrophysicists and Astronomers who invited Jerry to join some of their private discussion groups where he spent many a happy hour in lively discussion and debate, learning all he could from those experts in his fields of interest.
Jerry was predeceased by his father Jack Bell, his mother Helen (Sunny) Bell nee Elander, his older brother Jack (Jackie) Bell Jr, his identical twin brother Jeffrey, and a great many aunties and uncles.
Left to mourn are his son and daughter-in-law Aaron and Sarah Bell and his grandchildren Madison and Carsten of Victoria BC, his companion Diane Mirka of Ponteix SK, his sister Joanne (Bert) Hiscock of Waasis NB, his nephew Kendall (Laurie) Bell of Coquitlam BC, his niece Jaymie-lyn (Paulo) Amorim of Toronto ON, his auntie Patti Elander of Victoria BC, his brother-in-law Roger (Christine) Mirka of Tignish PEI, his son’s mother Coralee (Bob Hornsby) Bell nee Rowat , and numerous Elander cousins and friends.
The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff at Cypress Regional Hospital, especially Dr. Gatzke and staff in the emergency department, Dr. Said for his tireless efforts in search of ways to ease Jerry’s suffering and the nurses and staff of Ward 3 for their tender, compassionate care of Jerry during his time there.
At Jerry’s request there will be no service. His ashes will be interred at a future time in his beloved twin brother Jeffrey’s grave in Victoria BC.
Donations in Jerry’s memory can be made to The Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home, for further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.