June 23, 1940 - December 19, 2023
Penny McKinnon (née Smith) died on December 19, 2023, in Fergus, Ontario, after a very brief illness.
As Penny would like to say, she was in her 70th year for the 14th time. She was dearly loved by her sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Peter Sands, her two daughters, Kirsten McKinnon and Maria McKinnon, Maria's husband, Anthony Wettlaufer, and her beloved granddaughters, Sydney Turvey and Halley Wettlaufer. Born in Calgary, Alberta to Fred and Vera Smith, Penny was an accomplished pianist and huge-hearted counsellor who supported the well-being of thousands of students and families within the Oxford County Board of Education/Thames Valley Board of Education.
Penny was known for her caring, generous and selfless nature, curiosity and compassion for people, and love of reading, music, architecture, theatre, and Chris Hadfield. She enjoyed 47 years of living in Woodstock, Ontario, before moving to a retirement home in Elora in May 2023. For Penny, a day was never complete without a walk outdoors and meaningful conversations with family, friends and neighbours. In her later years, Penny found joy in summer vacations with family and activities such as ballet and Tai Chi.
Her film and book clubs were an especially cherished source of learning, discussion, and friendship. A gathering to celebrate the tremendous gift of Penny's life, for family and close friends, will be announced at a future date.
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