The Newsleer of Royal York Road United Church 851 Royal York Road, Etobicoke, ON M8Y 2V3 www.ryru.ca (416) 231‐9401 Sept 2020

Minister’s Message CONTENTS We have had an extraordinary summer, Minister’s Message 1 to say the least. Each one of us has had Returning to in‐person worship 2 to alter dramacally the rounes of New website 2 everyday life because of the many re‐ Children’s Church carries on! 3 stricons made necessary in a pandem‐ Thanksgiving food drive 4 ic‐ridden world. Our communal rou‐ Out of the Cold program cancelled 4 nes have also undergone dramac In Memoriam 7 changes. The acvies we have always Directory Changes 14 taken for granted have been curtailed and modified. Not all items appear in the index ‐ look inside for more news These changes have felt like a major blow to the life and work of our congregaon. We had no services of wor‐ ship at the church from Sunday March 22nd to Sunday th September 6 , a total of 26 Sundays, an enre half The lack of opportunies to be together in person has year! Now that we have started having services again, also deeply affected our pastoral care pracces, social we can only do so with major restricons – no singing events and church meengs. All of this is now done by or praying aloud together, no choir, everyone wearing telephone, email and internet video conferencing. masks and staying 6 feet apart and worst of all, no Again, we have all had to learn new ways to use tech‐ Coffee Hour! Along with a dramacally modified wor‐ nology as best we can and there have been some frus‐ ship roune, we have had to stop vising with each oth‐ traons in communicang well with each other. On the er in person, holding meengs at the church and we other hand, it is remarkable how well we have done in have had to cancel some cherished events like our Sun‐ being creave and paent as we learn new ways to be day aernoon Pastoral Care and Vespers services and the church. the Royal Fair. It is also remarkable that our church has connued to At the same me, the challenges we are facing have receive strong support, both in volunteer efforts and brought opportunies to re‐imagine our life and work financial contribuons, from our members and friends. together. We have managed to post some worship re‐ We are deeply grateful for the contribuons that all of sources on the internet each week. At first, this pre‐ you are making to ensure that our church stays healthy sented us with a formidable “learning curve” as we be‐ and our ministries can connue. Many thanks to each gan filming, eding and posng videos on‐line. Eventu‐ one of you. Above all, we give thanks to the Spirit of ally we also learned how to provide a “live‐stream” of God, moving within and among us, providing us with our services on a YouTube channel. The internet ad‐ the energy we need to carry on with our individual lives dress of our YouTube channel is: and our community life together. hps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsLWnh_‐gK8yxBgxfgGfTYg Grace, mercy and peace be with us. Once we reach 100 subscribers on this channel we can Hans van Nie assign a friendly URL address to it instead of dealing with the awkward row of leers and numbers in the address we have now. So if you have a chance to go to the YouTube channel (you can visit or click on the link above), please click on the SUBSCRIBE buon to help us reach 100 subscribers. September 2020 - 1 - Royal News

In‐Person Worship started on Royal York Road United Church wants to ensure the health and safety of all members and visitors and togeth‐ Sunday September 6, 2020 er we must pracce all the COVID‐19 protocols provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another.”

Welcome Back Ban‐ ner at the church entrance on Sunday September 6, 2020 thanks to Ella & Henry Clarkson

Worship services at Royal York Road United Church have resumed, with the following Covid‐19 Health & Safety Pro‐ tocols in place:  Arrive 30 minutes early.  Line up 2m/6 apart to sign‐in at double doors on Photo showing physical distancing in pews from Royal York Road (or elevator entrance off parking lot.) Sunday September 13, 2020.

 You must sign‐in and verify you have no COVID symp‐ toms, have not been in contact with anyone with Check out the NEW Royal York Road United COVID symptoms and have not travelled outside of Church Website at www.ryru.ca Canada.  Clean your hands with hand sanizer as you enter and Many in the Communicaons Commiee at RYRUC, with exit the church. the support of our church member and summer student Andrew Blackwell, have worked hard all summer up‐  Pick up your weekly bullen in the narthex. dang and refreshing the RYRUC website and social me‐  Please always wear your face mask inside the church dia program. Like all websites, ours is an ongoing work in (unless medical condions make this difficult.) progress and we are connuing to add more informaon  An usher will guide you to and from your seat (certain and photos. Please send any comments, suggesons, pews will be blocked off so physical distancing is prac‐ photos and correcons to communica[email protected] ced.)  Please do not touch bibles or hymn books.  Only the Minister, Lay Reader, Soloist, Director of Mu‐ sic will speak or sing.  Children are welcome to sit with their families, but children’s programming will only be online at www.ryru.ca.  A collecon plate will be available at the back as you exit or via PAR or etransfer at [email protected]  There will be no refreshments or coffee hour aer ser‐ vices. Samuel Wells, vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Lon- don, offered this reply to a child’s question, “Did God Approximately 30 RYRUC members per week have aend‐ make coronavirus?” ed in person but services will connue to be live streamed Wells said “I don’t believe so, but God made the abil- on our RYRUC Youtube channel as well as available on vid‐ ity to change. Biologists call it mutation. Some chang- eo at hps://www.ryru.ca/eworship es are really bad ones, like this virus. But human be- Volunteers are sll needed to help with ushering and ings can change too. And to get out of this hole, it looks like we’re going to need to change a lot. Maybe greeng on Sundays. Please contact for the better.” [email protected] if you are able to help. Royal News - 2 - September 2020

Children’s Church carries on! music, they learn through music, and with no Junior Choir or classroom singing now possible, we asked Aaron if he would On September 13 the miracle of Zoom gave us the oppor‐ like to teach and lead songs, hymns and musical acvies tunity to say a fond farewell to Catherine McPherson. With online,in tandem with Gillian’s program. His reply was an a video retrospecve, a special song wrien for the occa‐ instant and passionate Yes, and he is now on staff as our sion, gis and a cake, we thanked her for four years of gen‐ Interim Children’s Church Music Coordinator. (CD is sll hop‐ erous and dedicated leadership of our Children’s Church ing to find a third part‐me leader, to work with our teens, a program. Under her care our church school blossomed, sector we didn’t feel deserved to be overlooked.) We are aendance remained strong, curriculum and teaching mate‐ frankly delighted and wish both Gillian and Aaron a success‐ rials were added, Godly Play became a regular feature of the ful, happy year. Their work will be reviewed aer Christmas, Junior program, confirmaon classes were taught, volunteer and if all has gone well their contracts will be renewed unl teachers mentored, and a wide variety of acvies engaged June. our youth. She wrote her own Christmas pageants, and the We asked both of these young teachers to say a few words end‐of‐year services led by Children’s Church were always by way of self‐introducon: wonderful summaries of the year’s learnings. She even found me to offer some study events for our adult educa‐ Hello! My name is Gillian. I am excited to be the Interim on programs, and to preach and lead worship on occasion! Children’s Church Coordinator!

Catherine’s resignaon, in order to be more available to her I am a trilingual student in Transla- family, le a very large pair of shoes to fill. With COVID re‐ tion Studies at York University’s stricons keeping us at home, the Chrisan Development Glendon College, and I aspire to Commiee brainstormed how we could keep Children’s become a French Immersion teacher. Church going nonetheless. We needed to find someone My interest in teaching was deep- ened through my involvement with quickly as Interim Children’s Church Coordinator, an enthu‐ Peace by PEACE, a community- siasc individual who was familiar with RYR, with the church building empathy program for ele- school programs, and who would be equally comfortable mentary school students. In my free working in a live or online seng. A big ask – but of the time, I love watching baseball. three keen applicants it soon became clear that Gillian Sie‐ mens would be up to the task, and then some. RYRUC has been my church home for my entire life. I have been involved in Children’s Church for many years Having grown up in the church and come up through our and I am thrilled to continue with the Royal York Road church school, Gillian is inmately familiar with our ethos, children this year. I look forward to a new year of engag- our theological and inclusive orientaon and our curricula. ing with the kids in creative ways as we navigate new ave- She knows the children and their families. She has consider‐ nues of communicating and participating in church life. able experience as leader and assistant in a variety of com‐ munity service and social jusce organizaons. Gillian is a ************** cerfied “Peace on PEACE” facilitator, with hands‐on experi‐ Hi everyone! I’m Aaron. I’ve been a ence working with children on developing peaceful conflict part of the Royal York Road commu- resoluon. Perhaps most crically, she has worked as a vol‐ nity for just over a year now. My unteer teacher with Catherine, learned how to present God‐ grandfather and his family lived on ly Play and how to work virtually through Google Classroom. Gillian is a busy university student, but studying online this year allows her the me she will need for developing a rich Royal York Road welcomed me with and fun program for ages 3‐12. Our children are in very open arms, and remains for me a place good hands – we invite everyone with younger children to of comfort and joy. I’ve enjoyed mak- join Gillian weekly for stories, games and cras designed to ing many friends in the choir and con- follow the church calendar and teach the basics of the Chris‐ gregation. Being appointed Interim Children’s Church Music Coordinator is such an honour and privilege. I get an faith. Welcome, Gillian – we are grateful and pleased to to combine my passion of working with children with have you take on this important role! my love of music to serve Royal York Road. The young Gillian will not have to work alone. In reviewing the applica‐ people here can expect a term filled with singing, moving, ons, CD noced that Aaron de Melo had his own unique poetry, scripture, and much more! set of skills to offer, parcularly in the realm of music. He is I run my own private tutoring company in the neighbour- also a university student (heading for med school) with his hood, while journeying along the path to becoming a pae- own tutoring pracce and lots of experience working with diatrician. (With quite a while still left to go!) children of all ages. What jumped out at us, though, was that he has sung as a member of our Senior Choir and plays In my spare time, I enjoy being outside (no matter five instruments – might he be interested in supplemenng what the weather), spending time with family and friends, singing whenever I can, and trying to learn Gillian’s sessions with a musical component? Children love German and Mandarin.

September 2020 - 3 - Royal News

now available for RYRUC’s Community Out of the Cold at All virtual Committee Saints Kingsway closed for the 2020/2021 Meetings season due to Covid-19. The Outreach Committee at Royal York Road United Church, especially co-ordinators, Enid Wray and Tracy Bowie would like to personally thank everyone for your

support during past years for providing food, financial do- nations and lots of hard work and cooking and serving expertise. The healthy, delicious dinners and lunches we provided for our vulnerable community members were so

needed and appreciated.

Unfortunately, the health and safety concerns related to

COVID-19 caused OOTC to close their doors in March Recent photo of the Outreach Committee Meeting 2020 and for the 2020/2021 season. The City of Toronto on Bluejeans on June 3, 2020. Susan James is has strongly recommended no overnight respites and no providing an update on Kairos. sit-down group meals be offered at respective faith-based community locations. The City of Toronto and Dixon Hall BlueJeans is a virtual meeting platform (like Zoom) that are working to identify a location to run a 24-hour winter Royal York Road United Church now has available for respite program for approximately 80 to 100 guests nightly meetings. All Church Council and Council Executive (COVID regulations dependent) from November to April. meetings have been held successfully on BlueJeans since the Covid-19 restrictions started in March, 2020. Nina Arsenault, the Out of the Cold Coordinator at All Stay in touch with your church groups and committees Saints Kingsway thanked Royal York Road United Church and schedule a meeting by contacting the church office and other churches and community supporters for provid- at [email protected] ing food, respect, and kindness.

“There will be a void. Keeping in mind that no “guest” Food Drive for Thanksgiving and Beyond should have to move nightly to different locations, po- tentially seven in seven days, to sleep on a mat in a The RYRUC Outreach room full of people that they may or may not know I Committee is doing a am filled with hope. Hope that perhaps what Sister special Thanksgiving Susan started 34 years ago as an emergency shelter Food Drive. Food bank will finally be incorporated into the city plan that can usage in Toronto is up be funded and offered safely. OOTC All Saints King- 30% during Covid-19 sway will take a pause for this season. We will use and with many pro- this time to assess needs in our community and how grams like Out of the Cold now cancelled, this is one way we can really they can be addressed moving forward in coming help. Drop off non-perishable items – everything wel- seasons.” come but the most needed items are canned fish/meat, peanut butter, pasta and rice. Donations of baby food, dia- Royal York Road United Church and the Outreach Com- pers, and other canned foods as well as plastic grocery mittee will continue to work hard in our local community at bags are always appreciated. Bring with you to church on Christ St. James Food Pantry, Stonegate Ministry and Sunday mornings or just drop by the church and safely other programs as well as throughout Canada and the deliver – the box will be just outside the main church world through our support of the Mission & Service of the doors on Royal York Road from 9:30am to noon. Or United Church of Canada. Please check the website drop by any time at the Bowie’s house at 5 Gladfern Road www.ryru.ca for any updates and we will also be in touch (street at crosswalk on Norseman, 3 blocks east of Isling- if there are any changes or new opportunities to become ton.) Place food in the large blue plastic bin in front of the garage. We will deliver the food to our local communi- involved and give back. A few volunteers are needed to ty food bank at Christ St. James Food Pantry. For addi- help with safe/no contact deliveries for the food bank to tional information, please contact Tracy Bowie at out- clients who cannot pick up food packages in person due [email protected]. to health restrictions. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Royal News - 4 - September 2020

Royal York Road United Church Alumnus is Executive Producer of new Netflix movie

2020 POINSETTIA SALE CANCELLED The UCW has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Poinsettia Sale, but we look forward to offering it again in 2021! David Cornfield (son of Ron & Shirley Cornfield) and his wife Linda are among the Executive Pro- ducers of The Social Dilemma, a new Netflix movie that opened on September 9, 2020 and explores social media and its potential negative impact on society. David and Linda are based in Seattle and

involved in many outreach-type projects including We rejoice with Margaret Allana Elder the Sundance Film Festival and a non profit en- and Benjamin Michael Bower, who were couraging the use of films in schools and advocacy married at RYR on September 12. There organizations to enact policy change. They have is a video of the ceremony on our also produced other documentaries – “The Love YouTube channel. Bug” on nature and “Chasing Ice” and “Chasing Coral” on climate change. A few interesting notes –

 David’s sister’s name is also Linda.  After the pandemic subsides, they hope to travel to Toronto to visit David’s mom (she is doing well at Humber Heights) and attend a future Movie Group night at Royal York Road United Church and do a Q & A on The Social Dilemma.

CONGRATULATIONS TO STEPHANIE NISHI Joanne Nishi’s daughter, Stephanie, has recently received her PhD. She did her research with the Department of Nutritional Sciences, in the Faculty of Medicine at U of T and with the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre at St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health. She is leaving for Spain this month to work with a team that is conducting a nu- tritional intervention trial across the country. She will be working on projects relating to dietary interven- tions and their association with adipose measures and cognitive functioning.

September 2020 - 5 - Royal News

Congratulaons Dr Lucyk AWARD FOR LEE MELYMICK At the Wheelchair Basketball Canada annual awards on The Rev. Dr. Stan Lucyk marked the 65th Anniversary of April 18, 2020, Canadian National Wheelchair Team player his Ordinaon on June 6, 2020. The Church Council Chair Lee Melymick received the Male Athlete of the Year Award. sent a leer of congratulaons on behalf of the RYRUC family and received this lovely note back.

Melymick’s ascension up the ranks has been swift. In 2019, silver was a theme for the Toronto native. He helped Team Ontario to a silver medal at the Canada Games in Red Deer. He also helped Team Canada to a silver medal and a Tokyo Paralympic berth at the Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games, where he solidified a place in the starting lineup. He won another silver medal with his club team, the Variety Village Rolling Rebels, and was named to the all-star team at the CWBL National Championship. “It’s such an honour to be recognized for all the work I’ve done and amazing accomplishments I’ve been a part of,” said Melymick. “This award means I’m heading in the right direction and I can confidently keep moving forward to- wards my goal of excellence.” New HGTV series features Refugee friends Lee would have been going to Tokyo this year for the Para- of Royal York Road United Church. lympic Games. We hope he will still have the opportunity to compete in 2021. Ruba & Abd Bilal and their son Jad are featured in the The Melymicks live across from the church and although new series, Family Home they are not active members they are friends and part of the Overhaul, which premiered RYR community. Lee and his older brother Luke used to on Sunday Sept 27. The attend church school, as well as other partner events includ- Bilal family are refugees from ing Beavers and cubs. Syria via Lebanon and visited Lee practiced in our gym at RYRUC this summer a few Royal York Road United Church in January of 2019. times and was very appreciative of our beautiful gym and Ruba also volunteered at an Out of the Cold dinner. accessible church. This is a good news story - they have worked really hard and have good jobs and saved enough money to Lee and his family are also potentially willing to do some buy a house in our community. The house needed sort of clinic/demonstration in future for children/youth in some extensive work and they were lucky enough to our community in future when things are up and running receive have their house totally renovated including again. new roof, windows, doors, kitchen, bathroom, flooring, furniture, landscape and more via the TV series, Family Tracy Bowie Home Overhaul. The Bilal’s are good friends of Tracy & Guy Bowie and you might spot the Bowies doing some demolition work on the show on Sunday October 25th at 10pm. Royal News - 6 - September 2020

IN MEMORIAM

Remembering those we have lost at RYRUC in 2020

We regret that we have lost many long‐me members of RYRUC in the last year, and in many cases, due to Covid‐19 restricons, we were not able to have a funeral and say a special goodbye and show our love to their families. The following are some special tributes to some of these, with more to follow in future newsleers.

Fern Bedell, 1927 – 2020 BEDELL, Violet Fern (nee Partridge) – aer a brief illness, at her home at Harvest Crossings, Tillsonburg on Wednesday, April 1st, 2020 in her 93rd year. Predeceased by her beloved John, her husband of 60 years and her grand daughter Crystal Nicole DeFields. She is survived by her three daughters, Karen Benne (Robert), Debra DeFields (John) and Carolyn. Cherished grandmother of Amanda, Danielle & Dylan DeFields, Jeremy Knight (Melissa) & Sherry Brincat (Vince). Loving great grandmother of Easton, Logan & Ally Knight. She is also survived by her sister‐in‐law Bernice Hill (Colorado) and by many nieces, nephews & extended family. Prede‐ ceased by her parents, William & Harrie Partridge and by siblings Vera Van Buren, Donald & Vern Partridge. A special remembrance from her friend and RYRUC member, Norma Tait “Fern and her husband of 60 years, John, joined Royal York Road United Church in 1952. I visited Fern for many years in her home on Lothian Ave. where she had lived for 66 years. Fern was a joy to visit, always gracious and happy to have visitors, she never failed to make me feel welcome. Coffee and cinnamon rolls were always offered, somemes even lunch. Fern's husband and her girls were the most important things in her life and as I got to know Fern beer, I felt as though I was also beginning to know her family. She had many interests, bridge, curling, all things musical and of course, her summers spent at her family coage on Lake Erie. I miss our visits, she was entertaining, always gracious and conversaon never lagged. Fern was the epitome of the word "lady" in every sense. What a lovely lady, I miss her.”

Carol Adele Bolton, 1927 - 2020 On Tuesday March 31st, 2020 Carol Adele Bolton, loving wife, mother, grandmother and sis‐ ter passed away just days aer her 93rd birthday. Carol was born on March 26th, 1927 in Kitchener Ontario to St Clair and Ruby (Weigand) Good. Carol received her Teacher’s Cerficate from The Straord Teacher’s College and armed with the independent spirit that stayed with her all her life, she le home at 19 years old to pursue a career in Toronto teaching Grade One. In the big city she met, then married the love of her life, quiet, slightly shy, burly and handsome Hugh (Hughie) Bolton, former de‐ fenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Together they raised two sons, Mark and Tim, and were married for 47 years before Hughie’s passing in 1999. The things Carol loved most in life were her family, her church, bridge, books, crossword puz‐ zles and fashion. It’s actually possible that perhaps bridge should be at the top of that list! She was a fabulous card player, smart and sharp and everyone wanted her as their partner! She will be remembered for her quick wit, skill with numbers, kindness and high heels. Carol is survived by sons Tim (wife Kellie) and Mark (wife Jane), grandchildren Kristen, Sco, Ryley, Jesse and brother Keith Good (wife Jene).

September 2020 - 7 - Royal News

A special memory from RYRUC members and good friends, Paul & Clara McKenzie

"Carol and Hugh Bolton were great friends socially, in our bridge community and church community at Royal York Road United Church. We fondly remember geng together for an evening of bridge, whether it be in Toronto or up at our coages during the summer months. Our event began with good conversaon over dinner. Carol always insisted that we went to a restaurant that included dessert in the dinner price. Carol LOVED her desserts and she never gained an ounce of weight from them! When Hugh passed away, Carol had at her disposal many great friends who stepped in as her partner for our evenings together. We were thankful. Carol was a posive person who conducted herself in a Chris‐ an way. She took interest in others, she was a sharp competor in games and above all, she adored her family. We miss Carol very much."

Carol’s “Doris Day” look, according to her son Mark .With her beloved husband, Hugh Bolton, a former Toron- to Maple Leaf.

Carol with the ladies of UCW Unit 9

Barbara Anne Brundage, 1932 - 2020 Barbara Brundage (née Till) passed away peacefully and surrounded by love, on April 29, 2020 at the age of 88. Predeceased by her loving husband of 52 years, Claude. Wonderful mother of Paul (Kate) and Anne Claudee (George). Devoted Nana to Emily, Alex, Zach, Rebecca and sadly predeceased by Christopher. Amongst Barb's many accomplishments, her career includ‐ ed being a kindergarten teacher, a consultant/Primary Specialist, and a leading developer/ teacher of the 'Creang Together' program with the Etobicoke School Board. 'Mrs. B.' touched the lives of everyone she met with her kindness, posivity, unshakeable faith and joyful love of life. She was a connector of people and her ability to make any event, large or small, special will be missed by all who knew her. Barb loved spending me at the coage, nurturing friend‐ ships and pursuing her greatest passion, her family. She succeeded by teaching us that cre‐ ang a beauful life together is really the most important thing we can do for each other. Spe‐ cial thanks to the exceponal health care heroes and staff at Amica Dundas for the loving care they provided 'Nana B'.

A special remembrance from her good friend and RYRUC member, Adele Davis “Barbara and Claude Brundage loved their family and their home. Guests, whether invited for a special occasion, or those who dropped in, were always warmly welcomed. If the weather was good, the sunroom off the living room was a place enjoyed by many. When they became coage owners, a large bright sunroom was added there.

I met Barb before she met Claude! I was introduced to this outstanding new kindergarten teacher at Park Lawn School by a mutual friend. It was a friendship that grew and grew and lasted a lifeme. When Barb married Claude, we now

Royal News - 8 - September 2020

had a compable foursome. We travelled together as couples and as families. On a Spring Break holiday to Florida with other families from RYRUC the temperature dropped. To keep warm, we all bought Mickey Mouse sweatshirts. A pic‐ ture of the group in their new shirts embarrassed the teenagers, but from then on we were nicknamed “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Great fun! Deteriorang health over the years was the reason Barb moved to Dundas Ontario to be near her daughter Anne. She was a good friend to many!”

Barbara with Adele Davis and Ruth Devry

Barbara with Adele Davis in their Sunday best (love the hats!) in the early 1960’s (Bob or Nancy Davis in the stroller)

Helene Hulda Butcher, 1920 - 2020 With regret, the family announces the passing of Helene Hulda Butcher on January 18th, 2020 at the age of 99. She was a smart, independent, kind, stubborn, strong‐willed, impaent, chari‐ table person who loved life. She loved her husband Stan, her children, grandchild, and her friends. She loved to travel and always enjoyed a great party with all her friends. She lived through the great depression and survived the Second World War. Aer meeng our father Stan, a Brish soldier, they moved to England and eventually emigrated to Canada where my sister was born. We wish to thank Dr T. Lappa‐Walker and Julia from the Stonegate Community Health Centre for looking aer our mother for many years and the staff at the Atrium for all their help in the last year of her life.

Marion "Molly" Joyce Dennison, 1926 - 2020 Daughter of James (Jimmy) and Alice Elder. Marion was enabled to remain in her home be‐ cause of her dedicated care givers and then passed away at Humber River Hospital palliave care. Born and raised in Toronto Marion worked many years as an execuve secretary for Wood Company (“Sanitaon for the Naon”). Marion loved choir music, piano, bridge, travel to Thunder Beach coage, also was the librarian at 240 Scarle Rd for many years, plus be‐ longed to Lambton Bridge Club. Marion met her husband Jack Dennison and his sons Douglas and Ross through music. They became a family in 1957. Predeceased by husband John (Jack) Dennison, brother Bruce Elder (Nancy), and her stepson Douglas Dennison (Diane). Survived by stepson Ross Dennison (Paula), stepdaughter in‐law Diane, grandchildren Andrew (Andrea), Nancy (Gabriel).

September 2020 - 9 - Royal News

A special memory from RYRUC member and good friend, Sandy Metcalf “Remembering Marion – Marion was always cheerful and loved to have visitors, especially someone from Royal York Road United Church. She loved to hear news of the church and her friends and she missed us all. Not one to complain, she endured (with humour) her many medical issues and repeated falls. I knew her as Molly at Thunder Beach, the pop‐ ular, cheerful, interesng and brave hostess. A fine lady I will always remember.”

Anne Greenfield, 1916 - 2020

GREENFIELD, ANNE (nee REID) July 30, 1916 ‐ May 22, 2020 Anne Greenfield passed away peacefully, two months shy of her 104th birthday. She is survived and remembered with love by her children, Joan, John, Val, son‐in‐law Jim and brother John "Jack" Reid. She adored her grandchildren, Jennifer, Lauren (Ryan), Daniel (EmmyLou), Darren (Amy) and Ryan (Annika) and her 5 great‐grandchildren brought such joy in the last years of her life. Aune Anne was loved by her nieces and nephews and she was "Mother Greens" to many family friends. Pre‐ deceased by husband William "Bill", parents, Agnes and Stuart Reid, sister Clara (Bill), brother James, daughter‐in‐law Bey and sister‐in‐law Dorothy. Anne will be remembered for her beauful handwrien notes, playing the ring game at family events, making shortbread cook‐ ies, enjoying Scosh and faith music, and pouring cups of tea. We will always be so very grateful for her encouragement, compassion, kindness, trust, thoughulness, and always, no maer what, her love. The family would like to thank the caring staff of Runnymede Health Care Centre, where Anne spent the last 7 years of her life. As well, we thank the staff and friends of Royal York United Church, who offered sup‐ port and friendship through all of life's joys and sorrows.

A special remembrance from Linda Waterfield (former RYRUC member Catherine Clark’s daughter and Valerie Greenfield’s best friend) “The definion of caring is someone who shows kindness and concern for others – that is who Anne Greenfield was to so many people. She was a caring Wife, Sister, Mom, Aunt and Friend to all. She cared for her faith and her Church and showed this in the endless work she did for the Church as a CGIT Leader, reless worker as a member of the UCW (making meals and working many years at the Bazaars) and her connued support for the Church. She gave the best back rubs and always had a smile and hug to all she met. Caring Anne gave kindness and concern to her family, Church and friends and that is why so many keep her in their hearts. My family is honoured to have enjoyed her friendship for many years, she will never be forgoen. Thank you, Anne, we certainly hope you and Bill are enjoying your life in Heav‐ en.”

th Anne’s 90 Birthday “She was with her UCW unit - she loved those women!” said her daugh- ter Valerie Greenfield

Bill & Anne Greenfield celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 1990

Royal News - 10 - September 2020

Harriet Murray, 1922 - 2020 Harriet was born Harriet Jane Stewart in 1922, in the Caledon area north of Toronto. During the war she married her first husband who was called to serve and died in bale in the Neth‐ erlands; they were married for just a year ‐ a very sad start to Harriet’s adult life. Of course, during warme, Canadian women worked in the factories. Harriet did her part manufactur‐ ing munions and eventually she made a career out of working for the Sunbeam appliance factory that stood not far from here on Islington Avenue. She began at Sunbeam as a lowly filing clerk and finished there as a senior accountant, learning on the job and working her way to the top. She was smart, determined and ambious. People naturally assumed that she was a chartered accountant and when asked where she earned her “C.A.” she would say, “from a lile old school house in Caledon.” Aer the war, Harriet married William Murray and they had a daughter, Carmen. William worked in construcon. He worked hard, perhaps too hard and he suffered a heart aack and died at the age of 55. By then, Harriet had been re‐ red from her work at Sunbeam but aer William’s death she went back and spent several years staffing the switch‐ board. Harriet was a true “people person” with many, many friends. She was generous, honest and loved to have fun. She liked to travel, she was an avid euchre player and a devoted Blue Jays fan. She loved children, especially, of course, her grand‐daughter and great‐grand‐daughters. Harriet’s best friend was Elsie Holmes, I believe they first met in the munions factory during the war. Elsie was a life‐ long friend and helped connect her with Royal York Road United Church. In any case, Harriet became part of the thriv‐ ing community at the church and enjoyed that life immensely. She especially liked the music and she loved singing hymns. Special Remembrance from Patricia Baulu, RYRUC member and friend of Harriet’s

“Harriet was blind in her later years and bore the loss with grace. She was very appreciative of the staff at Tyndall Nursing Home and loved visits from her daughter Carmen. She enjoyed the food and the music events at the home. She would sing along as she knew the words to many hymns. She liked to remember her friends from Queensway United, especially Elsie Holmes who used to phone Harriet every afternoon. Harriet loved coming to the Sunday afternoon Seniors' Events at RYRUC where she could partake of the "goodies": the home baked cakes and cookies along with the grapes and cheese. She also appreciated receiving Communion from Hans van Nie and Brenda Bailie.”

Ralph Smith RALPH THOMPSON SMITH: Ralph died peacefully at home, supported lovingly by his wife, Kathy, as he was for every single day of their 16 years together. Despite living with chronic kidney disease for many years, it was a brief bale with cancer that took him, swily, in the end, on May 28, 2020. As well as his wife, Kathy Baxter, Ralph is survived by his son, Alan Smith (Kelly) and daughter, Liana Smith, of Kingston, and remembered fondly by their mother, Karen Kelly. He was loving Grandpa to Bryan (Krista) and Gage, and Great‐Grandpa to Colton. He was stepdad to Michael Baxter (Jill) and Amy Wilkinson (Craig), and Papa Ralph to Timothy, William, Christopher and Sabine. A graduate of Ryerson in Business Administraon, Ralph was a respected life insurance in‐ dustry educator and trainer in his early career before launching his own financial services and consulng business. Having been acve in a variety of charitable causes, he had a vi‐ sion to expand philanthropy in Canada by finding a way to enlist investment advisors to engage in meaningful philan‐ thropic discussions with their clients. Together with a few close colleagues, Ralph worked relessly to introduce donor‐ advised funds to the Canadian wealth management industry. Ulmately his hard work helped evolve their efforts into

September 2020 - 11 - Royal News

the formaon of the Charitable Gi Funds Canada Foundaon, arguably Canada's largest donor‐advised fund founda‐ on. No tribute to Ralph would be complete without a menon of golf. It was in his teens, at the Scarborough Golf & Country Club, that Ralph's life‐long love affair with the game began. He held his professional card for several years and played an incalculable number of rounds in his lifeme, at well over 400 courses across North America. He had an ency‐ clopedic knowledge of the game and long aer he gave up his professional status, Ralph connued to be a paent, gra‐ cious teacher and a true gentleman on the greens. Even throughout the last decade of his life, when his health was in‐ creasingly compromised, he connued to play with his hallmark graceful, effortless swing. Not one to mind that his handicap had slipped, he simply relished every day he played 'on this side of the grass.' A quiet, loyal man, in addion to his wife and children, Ralph leaves behind his brother, Gordon (Eileen) and sister, Sylvia Percival (Ted), nieces and nephews in his extended family, cherished close friends, long‐me colleagues and his beloved dog, Bogey. The family wishes to thank the dialysis and transplant teams at OTMH and TGH that have supported Ralph for the past ten years. Also the palliave care professionals from the Dorothy Ley Hospice that made it possible for him to be cared for at home.

Eleanor Shirley Storkey, 1923 - 2020

A Special Remembrance by her friend and RYRUC member, Sandra Connery

Eleanor Storkey died on July 21, 2020 six weeks shy of her 98th birthday. She was born in To‐ ronto and enjoyed a happy life with her husband Bill and children Carol (Donald) and Brian (Jacqueline.) Eleanor took pride in her family and enthusiascally reported the weddings of her grandchildren and the birth of the great grands as they arrived. Special pleasures included dancing, listening to music, a glass of sherry and eang. She was an extremely social woman who never passed up an invitaon or opportunity to chat.

Eleanor was a relavely new friend. We met because Ellen Montgomery was working in the church office and learned Eleanor was preparing to move and had items for the garage sale. Ellen said we would pick them up. Ellen didn’t drive, so the “we” included me and my car. We arrived at Eleanor’s on a Saturday morning and were greeted with hot coffee and tasty buns; typical Eleanor warmth as it turned out. Once Eleanor was seled at Hearthstone by The Bay, I had the privilege of driving her to aernoon church services. She enjoyed the worship but loved the tea party that followed. She would head straight to “her” chair where she was ready to welcome the company of anyone who would sit nearby. Macular degeneraon claimed most of her sight, but it did‐ n’t stop her! She had a lovely sense of humour and enjoyed teasing and being teased. Knowing Eleanor was a real pleasure. The photo taken by Jessica Wintergerst of her Nana last Thanksgiving is a perfect reflecon of Eleanor’s enthusiasm for life. She’s dressed smartly, as always, and her snappy brown eyes show the mo‐ ment of ancipaon before a special meal.

Royal News - 12 - September 2020

Evelyn Wilson, 1921 – 2020

In the absence of a published obituary, this tribute has been prepared by friends to share some details of Evelyn’s life.

Evelyn May Wilson (nee Walton) was born in Todmorden to parents who had emigrated from England. Her early jobs involved caring for adults and children, which matched her ambion to be a nurse. During WWII, she worked at Radio Valve, part of the GE plant by the Dufferin Gates, making radio tubes used by the Armed Forces. She worked there for 19 years. Her other work experiences included office work at the Davis Company near Royal York Road and Dundas, and working in the cafeterias at Etobicoke Collegiate and Etobicoke School of the Arts. At the age of 17, she joined Oakwood United Church. She had a great faith and read her Bible every day. Rita used to print off the Scripture reading for her to pick up every Sunday on her way into church so she could see it in print in case she couldn’t hear the reader. Even in her last months, when our church was closed for in‐person services, she asked what the scripture was so she could read it at home. She married Jim in 1957 at Oakwood United Church and their son, Wesley, was born in January 1960. Unfortunately, just four months later in May, Jim died unexpectedly. He was the leader of the Beaver Bible Class and founder of the Beaver Show. The members of the class put on this musical and sketch revue to raise funds for charity. Evelyn support‐ ed her husband in this annual event by selling chocolate bars, so drinks and her homemade fudge at the shows. Evelyn joined RYRUC in 1961. She thought Wesley needed some males in his life, so she joined the Royal York Cub Pack. She became a Cub Scout Leader and connued as one for 28 years! Evelyn was a Life Member of UCW and took an acve part in their acvies. She was leader of Unit 7 from 1990 unl it disbanded in 2007 and then she joined Unit 9. For many years, Unit 7 organized and ran the Country Store and Unit 9 the Bake Sale at the Royal Fair. She always contributed as she was able. At the age of 97, she worked with Mary Ward to staff the Parcel Check at the 2018 Royal Fair! Consistent with her interest in people, her ability to listen, and her concern for the well‐being of others, it is not sur‐ prising that Evelyn became involved in pastoral care acvies at the church. Over the years, she was an acve parci‐ pant in many areas of the Pastoral Care program. She served as a Vising Elder, a Personal Contact Visitor and a home visitor as a member of Royal Connecon. She served as Convenor of the Telephone Assurance Team, calling designated members of the congregaon each morning to check on their well‐being. This acvity transioned into being an ongo‐ ing member of The Telephone Relay Team, providing pernent RYRUC informaon to those in the congregaon with‐ out computer access. Her acve role in the delivery of Easter and Christmas flowers was exemplified on several occa‐ sions by flowers being delivered to Guelph! Evelyn was an enthusiasc member of the commiee that provides special aernoon worship services followed by a recepon four Sundays a year. Those Sundays, Evelyn would bring her lunch so she could stay between the morning and aernoon services working in the kitchen to prepare the recepon for the “old people,” most of whom were younger than she. Of course, she enjoyed vising with everyone at the recepon. By caring about and caring for others, Evelyn was a true reflecon of Pastoral Care at Royal York Road. She was hon‐ oured for her contribuons at a worship service in 2018 when she was presented with a Prayer Shawl. Evelyn corresponded with her family in England and friends all over the world. This was a wonderful pasme, especial‐ ly in the last months of her life during the pandemic. At her request, one of her good friends bought $40 worth of stamps not long before she died so she could connue her leer‐wring. Evelyn had beauful handwring and was great at wring thank‐you notes. Recipients were surprised to receive a lovely note thanking them for the smallest deed. Friends of Evelyn from the church and other organizaons were encouraged to send her greengs this past May for her 99th birthday. She was, of course, living in isolaon in her room at West Park Lodge because of the pandemic. She was thrilled to receive over 60 birthday cards and messages and, true to form, phoned each sender to say thank you. Those friends are so happy they were able to show her how much she was loved and appreciated on her last birthday. We miss her! September 2020 - 13 - Royal News

2020 Church Directory is now available. Please contact Rita (Tuesday to Friday) if you wish to have a directory placed in your church mailbox for a Sunday pick‐up or to make arrangements to collect a copy during the week. Remember to call ahead to ensure someone is here to welcome you. If you have revised contact information please let Rita know so your household details are current.

The purpose of The Royal News is to share informaon among members of the congregaon, and submissions are encouraged. The Royal News is published under the oversight of the Communicaons Commiee, which reserves the right to review submis‐ sions for length and content.

Royal News Editor: Helen Coxon Submission deadline for next issue: October 31 Publicaon date: November 15

Royal News - 14 - September 2020