December 30th, 1931 - May 3rd, 2022
Nancy Joan Winder died gently and comfortably at the home she loved so much on May 3rd, 2022. Nancy was born at Toronto General Hospital on December 30, 1931, to Victor Ersyll and Ivadell (nee Mills Donald) Boake. She married Clifford Ray Winder on May 17, 1952, and was married for 38 years until his death in 1990. She leaves behind her four children, their partners and her ten grandchildren: Christine, Ruedi, Zoe, Amie and Zara; Rebecca, David, Charlotte and Tristan; Connie, Gerlando, Owen and Oliver and Charles, Octavia, Sam, Cherokee and Kiana.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Barbara and Barbara’s husband, Bill Paterson. She is survived by her brothers Donald and John, their wives, Betty-Joan and Mae, her sister-in-law Dana Winder, her cousin Sandra and Sandra’s husband Guy Upjohn and her many nieces, nephews and friends.
Nancy was an avid gardener, an expert knitter, and an excellent baker and cook whose favourite meal was breakfast and who loved being outdoors. She was always curious, ever industrious, and a clever and ingenious problem solver. She could change the oil in a variety of vehicles, disassemble, repair, and reassemble small and large appliances, knit and crochet intricate patterns beautifully and had talent for interior and landscape design.
She loved games, word puzzles and she adapted to the world around her with youthful enthusiasm and an excellent sense of humour. She never shied away from physical labour in her garden and around her home. She planted thousands of trees in her lifetime and she and Cliff were the recipients of the Grand River Watershed award in 1986 in recognition of their conservation efforts. She loved birds, animals, trees, plants and the natural world.
Her children and grandchildren remember with love and gratitude the meals and celebrations she hosted, the games at which she cheered them on, the beautiful things she made for them, her unrelenting optimism and independence and most of all her deep and abiding love for them as a mom and a gran.
Over the past seven years she received unparalleled care and compassion from the staff at Princess Margaret Hospital and most especially from Dr. Ralph Gilbert. In addition, the family would like to thank, Dr. Mallin, Kathleen Chambers, the drivers from Dufferin County Community Support Services, Tom, Ken and Paul, Dr. Saltman, Edite Santos, the Bayshore nurses, and nurse practitioners and the PSWs from Headwaters Homecare, most especially Amandeep, Namist and Mode who helped care for Nancy with expertise, kindness, and profound empathy in the final months of her life.
Nancy’s immediate family will celebrate her remarkable life privately on May 14, 2022. A recording of this celebration will be available here after that date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to any of the following:
• Princess Margaret Head and Neck Research Fund
https://supportthepmcf.ca/ui/DonateNow/donations/start or 1-866-224-6560 directed to the Head and Neck Research Fund
• Waterkeepers Canada https://www.swimdrinkfish.ca/donate#tribute or the
• Canadian Wildlife Federation https://secure2.convio.net/cwf/site/Donation2?df_id=6422&mfc_pref=T&6422.donation=form1 or (get info & link)
Or any act of kindness and consideration to this beautiful world, no matter how small.
Arrangements entrusted to Graham A Giddy Funeral Home
