Sep 27, 2019 |
August 20, 1934 – September 25, 2019
It is with much sadness that the family of Bob Cruickshanks announces his passing, Wednesday October 25, 2019. Bob died peacefully after a very short illness. He and Kathleen (Johnstone) were married for almost 63 years. Together they enjoyed a busy life with family and friends travelling to parts near and far until his memories and abilities were sadly and slowly taken away by vascular dementia.
Family was everything to Bob. He will be sorely missed by his brother Paul (Rosemary) and was predeceased by his sister Claudene Stafford (Richard). He was the loving father of Sandra (Tom McCauley), Donald (Sharon), Steven (Kathryn Smithyman), Craig (Marianne) and Timothy (Heather). His grandchildren always enjoyed adventures with him: Iain (Krista Schneider) and Lauren McCauley, Jay (Shawna) Irvine, Tracy (John) McKinnon, Kevin (Sarah) Cruickshanks, Erinn (Mark) Honeycutt, David (Allie) Kanters, Devan and Brody Cruickshanks. Loved grandson Joel Cruickshanks predeceased his grandfather. He was Great Grandpa to Ethan DiSciullo, Alec McKinnon, Emma Honeycutt, Eli Honeycutt, Quinn Cruickshanks and Rose McCauley Schneider.
He started his working life at the Federal Income Tax Department and then to sales with Westinghouse Canada. He was called to teaching where his contributions were honoured throughout the years. During his 32-year career he positively affected the lives of thousands of Hamilton public school students – in the classroom, as a Phys Ed teacher and, finally, as a Guidance Counsellor. He was also a teacher and Co-ordinator of the Hamilton Summer Skills program.
Bob was the life of any party, the spark in so many events, the person who took every opportunity to bring people together. He regularly took the whole family for overnights at hotels for swimming, eating, games and birthday cake. He and Kathleen packed up their three parents (Claude and Verna Cruickshanks and Kathleen Johnstone) to Barbados and driving trips to both Canadian coasts. He oversaw the Cruickshanks Family Reunions for years. He played basketball and volleyball until his knees finally said “stop”.
He was born into the Binkley United Church family, was a loyal member of the Landmark/Doric Lodge for more than 50 years, a 10-year volunteer with Ronald McDonald House, and a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Alumni Association due to his career with the Brantford Tigers B football team. A McMaster graduate, he was an active member of the McMaster Alumni Gallery Committee. He volunteered with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board Archives and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Archives. He supported local events by volunteering at track and swim meets as well as the Ford World Curling Championships and the Grey Cup both of which took place in 1996.
The family is grateful for the care he received from the staff of Valley Trail at St. Joseph’s Villa since early 2015. They are also thankful to those who supported Bob and Kathleen as his health declined.
Friends and family are invited to Turner Family Funeral Home, 53 Main St, Dundas, on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 from 2-4p.m. & 7-9p.m.. A funeral service will be held at Binkley United Church, 1570 Main St. W., Hamilton, on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 11:00a.m.
In honour of Bob’s life, you are welcome to consider a donation to the Cruickshanks and Johnstone Family Social Sciences Award at McMaster University, the Michael Johnstone Collection at the Hamilton Public Library or the charity of your choice.
Sep 27, 2019 |
February 15, 1921 – September 24, 2019
Predeceased by his dear wife Madeline Judd Gadson and friends Violet Emslic and Bernadette Bolton and sister Irene Greyory. Loved father of Dr. David Wilcox (Elizabeth) and Marilyn Jordon. Grandchildren, Heather Rubio (Mipzon), Julie Clark (Aaron), Krystal Jordon, Jason (Scott), Jordon and great-grandchildren Nathaniel and Eli. Missed by nieces and nephews and Stickle family, McMillan family and McKrigin family. A special thank you to the staff at St. Peter’s Hospital for their excellent care of Gordon. Cremation and a private interment have taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cancer Assistance Program would be greatly appreciated.
Sep 25, 2019 |
Passed away on Monday September 16, 2019 at Juravinski Hospital in her 92nd year. Beloved wife of the late Harold (2009). Loving mother to Donald and Judy (Rob). Caring grandmother to Emily, Angela (Ben), Tommy (Stephanie) and great-grandmother to Mycah. Edna was a long-time member of the Legion, where she played darts and pool. She and Harold shared a passion for golfing. Edna also bowled at the University Lanes in Dundas for many years. A Celebration of Life will be held at the R.C.L Br#36, 280 King St. W., Dundas on October 6, 2019 from 2 – 4 p.m.. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Sep 24, 2019 |
July 15, 1921 – August 24, 2019
Mildred’s remarkable life came to a close this summer. She was in her own home, surrounded by the love or her family, as was her wish for her final departure. Mildred was born to Edith Muriel Riddell (nee Clark) of Montreal and Arthur Gourlay Riddell of Hamilton. She and her younger sister, Douglas Clark Hodge (d. 2019), shared the closest of sibling bonds for their entire lives. Friday evenings were spent with great howls of laughter shared with the Riddell cousins at their grandparent’s home in Hamilton. Mildred and Douglas spent their childhood summers with the Clark family in Manitou, Quebec and attended Camp Oconto, where Mildred gained her life-long love of the great outdoors. She was educated in Hamilton at Adelaide Hoodless Central Collegiate and attended business school after which she worked for a time in the offices of Canada Crushed Stone. Mildred became a Girl Guide leader in her effort to inspire and share with others, her love of nature. At age 14 she met Kenneth Baker Hodd at a Girl Guide–Boy Scout event celebrating a Royal visit. They became fast friends and sweethearts. When war was declared, Kenn enlisted as part of the Royal Corps of Signals. He asked Mildred to wait for him and so it was that they became engaged at age 18. Having earlier earned her St John’s Ambulance Certificate, Mildred was a volunteer ambulance driver during the war, while Kenn served in the Italian theatre. Following their long wartime separation, Mildred and Kenn were married in August 1945. They had four children; Jane (Paul Reble), Patricia (Henry Krukowski), John (Karen Siggs) and Elizabeth (Arlie Katzman). Mildred was the ultimate homemaker, her family being the fortunate recipients of her skills in sewing, gardening and particularly cooking. Her pies and butter tarts were The Best! Mildred’s life motto could well have been “fidelity and service to others”. She was a loyal wife and mother and a steadfast friend, keeping many of her schoolgirl friendships until death. The organizations she belonged to include, Red Cross, Big Sisters, Women’s Canadian Club and the IODE, of which she was a charter member (75 years).Through these and others, she actively supported many charities. Mildred was a life-long learner, always interested in current events, geography, history, theatre, the world of nature and politics (Question Period). Her broad interests encompassed preserving her garden harvest, knitting, sewing, antiques, cycling, hiking, badminton, bridge, water sports, boating, picnics and book club. She was a voracious reader of both fiction and non-fiction, including subscriptions to Majesty and Royalty magazines. In later years she used an electronic reader as her sight began to fail. Mildred enjoyed sharing digital photos and keeping in touch daily with her children and friends on FaceTime. One of her greatest passions was travelling. She was fortunate to have visited over 50 countries, often with her best friend Gerrie Warner, with Kenn and their friends and with her children up until her last year. Her atlas was well thumbed. However, her favourite place in the world was at the cottage that she and Kenn built on Georgian Bay, where the family spent the summers playing and working together with friends and neighbours. There Mildred would spend most of her time outdoors sharing her enthusiasm for swimming, canoeing, wildflowers, forest creatures and especially birds. Binoculars were always close at hand. Kind, loving, generous and fair, Mildred was always a lady whether in elegant outfits and pearls or bug suit and rubber duckies. Her genuine interest in the lives of others made her a very good listener. She had an acute memory, often choosing to remember the good things over the bad and was blessed with a mind sharp as a tack to the very end. In 2005, Mildred and Kenn celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the cottage. Mildred was a model of strength in the face of adversity, when in 2006, a rare disease suddenly took the life of our beloved Patricia, followed by the passing in 2008 at the family home of her dear husband Kenn. Mildred and Kenn both learned to fly small planes, on one occasion flying cross country together, from Hamilton to Inuvik, above the Arctic Circle. She was a member of the “Ninety Nines”, International Organization of Women’s Pilots. Is it a coincidence that in her 99th year, Mildred got her angel’s wings after a life so well lived? Family was everything to Mildred and she was everything to us. Mildred will be fondly remembered by Peter and Martha Hodge, Sandi McCormack Snively, Philipp Weinschrod, Erin, Henry and Mathew Kolodziej. Mildred’s family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful caregivers from St. Elizabeth’s Nursing Care and Home Sweet Home for Seniors in Dundas. In lieu of flowers, Mildred’s family greatly appreciates donations to the charity of your choice or to the M. Patricia Krukowski memorial fund at St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Hamilton, Ontario, in memory of Mildred C. Hodd. A Pictorial Celebration of Mildred’s Life will be held at the Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club, on Sunday October 6, 2019 between the hours of 2-5pm. Cremation has taken place.
Sep 10, 2019 |
May 25, 1928 – September 7, 2019
Pyle, Doreen Francis “Skip” (nee Eves) – Passed away peacefully at Wentworth Lodge on Saturday September 7, 2019 in her 92nd year. Predeceased by her beloved husband David (1994). Loving mother to David (Linda), Pat Lawrence, Jackie (Blair) Irvine. Caring grandmother to Heather (Marcus), Eric, Kariann (David), Jodilynn (Kevin) and great-grandmother to 5. A special thank you to Wentworth Lodge for their excellent care and support for 10 years. A private family service has taken place.
