 Born in Bristol, England, she moved to Canada with her husband in 1957, settling in Calgary.In 1982, she founded Global Ed-Med Supplies (Canada) Inc. or Gems of Hope, a Canadian charity helping marginalized women in developing countries, and was the Executive Director.In 1989, the charity donated a series of medical shipments to Human Concern International's branch in Peshawar, following a plea by Ahmed Khadr.