Ingrid Greenwell

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Ingrid Valerie Greenwell (nee Gilbert) who died peacefully on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at Surrey Memorial Hospital surrounded by the people she loved most. She was 78 years old.

Ingrid was a devoted mother, an extraordinary grandmother, a loving sister, and warm friend. She was born in 1947 near Godalming, in the County of Surrey, England, and immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1954. She later settled in Nanaimo, BC, and welcomed her one and only child, Michelle, in 1977. She was a woman of remarkable courage and resilience, who built a safe, loving life for her daughter.

Her greatest joy in life was her granddaughter Mackenzie, born in 1999, with whom she shared a bond like no other. From the moment Mackenzie took her first breath, she was there, loving, encouraging, and fiercely proud. That love remained constant until her final moments, with her daughter Michelle, granddaughter Mackenzie, and son in-law Ian by her side.

In 2013, she moved to Surrey, BC, to live with her daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law, and her two bonus grandchildren. Ingrid became an integral part of a blended family and being a steady, loving presence in their lives brought her deep joy and meaning.

She had a lifelong love of caring for and spending time with children. When her granddaughter became a schoolteacher, Ingrid delighted in visiting her classroom, reading stories to the students, and sharing her warmth with the little ones.

She found companionship and joy in the family dogs, whom she adored. They spent their days together while the rest of the household was at work, and they, too, feel the absence of her gentle presence and constant affection.

She loved to read and was rarely without a stack of books nearby. She had many small quirks that were uniquely hers - habits, sayings, and routines that now bring smiles and laughter as her family shares memories and stories about her. Ingrid also had a deep interest in family history and genealogy and cherished simple pleasures like doing puzzles on the deck in the sunshine and meeting friends for coffee every Friday.

Ingrid will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to family and her quiet strength. Her legacy lives on in the lives she shaped, the family she nurtured, and the deep sense of being loved that she gave unconditionally.

Ingrid is lovingly remembered by her daughter Michelle, her son in-law Ian, her grandchildren Mackenzie (Mike), Alyson and Brody, her sister Brenda Kozlowski (Rick), her nephews Steve (Melissa), Brandon, her great-nieces and great-nephews and the many people whose lives were made richer by knowing her. She was predeceased by her nephew, Matthew, whose memory she held close after his passing in 2016.