Gwendolyn Hunter

Gwendolyn Isobel Hunter (nee Fullerton) Died peacefully after a brief illness in her 105th year on September 17th, 2014. Beloved wife of the late E. Norval Hunter, mother of Nancy (Duncan Edmonds) and Margaret (Michael Michalski), grandmother of Robert Edmonds (Wendy), Lorrie Edmonds, David Michalski (Tiffany Moore) and Peter Michalski (Andrea Wheaton), and great grandmother to Pierson, Corine, Logan and Dylan. Predeceased by her sisters Frances and Dorothy and her brother Bill. Gwen was born in Winnipeg on March 12, 1910. She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1930 and married Norval on Christmas Eve day 1932. Wonderful years were spent in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Espanola and Toronto before she moved to Bracebridge in 1990. In the early years, she was a caring and supportive wife to Norval as he helped to rejuvenate the paper mill in Espanola and later established the Canadian corporate head office in Toronto. Her loving support continued throughout Norval's long struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Charity was fundamental to Gwen, who was a dedicated volunteer (over 30 years) for the Auxiliary of the Hospital for Sick Children (life member) and for the United Church (in the Espanola, Kingsway-Lambton and Bracebridge congregations). Gwen loved to travel (Jamaica, Europe, UK), taking many international trips with Norval. After his death, she continued to enjoy many journeys (Russia, USA) with Nancy and Margaret, often accompanied by her God-child Barbara Fallis (predeceased) Any life that spans the last century has seen tremendous change, both in terms of hardship and advances. Gwen was remarkable in her ability to keep abreast of these changes in countless ways. Whether confirming her love of basketball that she avidly played as a student by accompanying three grandsons to a Raptors game, going to the theatre with her daughters, eating with her great-grandson from Africa at a Japanese restaurant in Bracebridge, or keeping up to date by reading the Globe and Mail on a daily basis, she embraced new experiences and changing times. Her primary focus has always been her family, particularly the time she spent at the Lake Panache cottage. She summered there yearly from 1945 until 2 months ago. An avid competitor, she would challenge her daughters and sons-in-law in bridge, her grandkids in ping pong and badminton and her great grandkids in Lego, Chinese checkers and cards. At Sunday dinners and family celebrations, she quietly reinforced her values by being a loving, giving and supportive matriarch, often making her point with a wry sense of humour. Gwen will be well remembered. The family will receive friends at the Reynolds Funeral Home "Turner Chapel" in Bracebridge on Sunday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. The Memorial Service will be held at Bracebridge United Church on Monday, September 22nd, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation or Bracebridge United Church. Messages of condolence can be made at www.reynoldsfuneral.com.

Visitation Details

Sunday, September 21st, 2014 2:00pm - 4:00pm, Reynolds Funeral Home "Turner Chapel"

Sunday, September 21st, 2014 7:00pm - 9:00pm, Reynolds Funeral Home "Turner Chapel"

Service Information

Monday, September 22nd, 2014 1:30pm, Bracebridge United Church