ORFORD o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-12-22 published
HILLS,
Jean
Ann (née
DOWNER)
At her residence in London on Monday, December 17, 2007 in her
81st year. Beloved wife of Norman for 61 years. Loving mother
of Margaret Lisbeth "Peggy"
HILLS of Mississauga, Norman John
HILLS and his wife
Kay of Carp, Henry Thomas
HILLS of Brockville
and Emily Jane and her husband Clive
ORFORD of Nepean. Dear grandmother
of Rosanna, Belinda and Olivia
McGUIRE,
Lizanne
BLAIR, Thomas
and Katherine
HILLS,
Margaret and Henry
ORFORD and great-grandmother
of Clarissa and Natasha
BLAIR.
Jean attended elementary and secondary
school in Simcoe, Ontario. She earned her Bachelor of Music (Education)
at the University of Toronto (1949) and attended Teacher's College
in London (1969). Along with Music, she taught French and Special
Education at the primary level. In 1978, Jean was President of
the London branch of the Women's Teacher Federation. Jean accepted
compulsory retirement in 1992 and in 2001 responded to a yearning
for the classroom by enlisting as a supply teacher to teach as
opportunities permitted, which continued until June, 2007. She
had many interests including music, flower gardening, photography,
heritage buildings, genealogy, and embroidery. A private family
service at the James A. Harris Funeral Home, London was followed
by cremation. A public memorial service will be held at Saint Paul's
Anglican Cathedral, 472 Richmond Street at Queens Ave., London,
on Sunday, April 20 at 2: 00 p.m. followed by a reception in the
parish hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the
Canadian Cancer Society, Salvation Army, or World Vision would
be appreciated and acknowledged. (www.HarrisFuneralHome.ca)
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ORFUS o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-01-10 published
AMAR,
Sara
Allison
Shapiro
By Pam SHAINHOUSE and Melanie
ORFUS,
Page
A20
Daughter, sister, wife, niece, cousin, grandchild, friend. Born
September 6, 1979, in Toronto. Died July 12, 2006, in Toronto
of Hodgkin's lymphoma, aged 26.
Alli's yearbook quotation, when she graduated from high-school,
came from a song written by one of her favourite bands, Counting
Crows: I can't remember all the times I've tried to tell myself
/To hold on to these moments as they pass. Although she was afforded
fewer moments than she deserved, she used her time to be a strong,
bright, loving person, living for her moments with family and
Friends.
Alli collected her Friends from every stage of her life. She
had an especially powerful bond with her grandmother, a strong
woman whose maternal influence, and keen eye for a good bargain,
could be seen in her granddaughter. Alli's family and Friends
will always talk about her hugs -- her full, strong, straight-from-the-heart
hugs. If you gave her a mediocre hug, she would let you know
and then squeeze until you understood what a true hug really
was.
To complement this instinct, Alli applied tenacity and wisdom
in all the right situations. When the best limousine was needed
for the prom and when donations were needed for the school play,
you went to Alli. When her Friends wanted to give her younger
brother beer at a concert, Alli stepped in. She had a real passion
to express herself. Although she had two brothers to compete
with, Alli's opinions were always heard -- even if you did not
want to hear them! She could, and would, confront anyone; however
she did so with a balance of reprimand and encouragement.
She matched this audacity in behaviour, too. At one high-school
exam, the class was given the essay question in advance. Alli
saw no reason to wait. She immediately borrowed some school paper
and prepared her essay at home one night. At the exam, she sneaked
the fully written essay in under her sweatshirt. The only evidence
of her bold move was the loud coughing she produced to hide the
crinkling of the paper when she pulled it out and flattened it
out on her desk. Alli emerged from the exam very well-rested.
It was not long after high school that Alli was diagnosed with
cancer, in her first year of Ryerson University. Instead of letting
it slow her down, she graduated with a fine arts degree at the
same time as her Friends. She endured chemotherapy, radiation,
and a stem-cell transplant while others were drinking beer and
worrying only about finals. Instead of hiding out, she maintained
Friendships and made new ones; she partied at spring break in
the Dominican Republic, took a group of teenagers across the
United States, and travelled to Israel with her mother. In her
studies, Alli worked late nights producing plays. Her attitude,
energy and strength made us all forget that she was sick.
Because Alli's focus was always on somebody else, we were so
thrilled when she found someone to dote on her: Philip
AMAR,
her other half. Philip did not consider her cancer treatment
a deterrent; he proposed to her in the presence of her ailing
grandmother. Married for just under two years, Phil gave Alli
the undying love, exceptional support and normalcy she deserved,
supporting her through a bone-marrow transplant and other treatments.
As her Friends' lives progressed, Alli's battle with cancer continued.
Realizing that there was so little support available for young
adult cancer patients, she began Alli's Journey -- a non-profit
organization dedicated to raising funds for education, research
and support for young adults, 18 to 35, with cancer. Its opening
musical gala took place a little over a month before she died
and found Alli on stage encouraging others to be a friend to
the young cancer patient. She will continue to give hugs and
support to others through Alli's Journey.
Pam is Alli's Mom; Melanie Alli's friend.
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