Obituary of Elizabeth Orford

Elizabeth "Lib" Metcalf (nee Harpham) Orford R.C.A.M.C. April 14, 1923 - November 11, 2008 Unexpectedly, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Toronto, following a brief illness, in her 86th year, Elizabeth Metcalf Harpham, devoted wife of the late T. Leonard Orford and beloved mother of Clive Harpham Orford and Neil Harpham Orford. Elizabeth was born and raised in Toronto, her much loved and respected parents being Horace Harpham - senior partner of Toronto's first Firestone Tire Distributorship, HARPHAM BROTHERS - and Emily (nee Jackson) Harpham. She was equally proud of her deep paternal roots in Lincolnshire, England, and her mother's deep colonial roots in New England. Of long abiding interest has been her treasured contact with her American and English relations. Christened in Buffalo, NY, in 1924, Elizabeth attended Brown School, Havergal College (Class of 1941) and the University of Toronto (Class of 1943). During those formative years, through World War II and for the rest of her rich life, she gained scores friends, all of whom she cherished dearly. Soon after graduating from U of T as a Physiotherapist she was sought out by the Physiotherapy Association's Military Affairs Committee to take a commission in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC). In September 1943, 2nd Lieutenant Harpham was sent first to Oakville, then to Petawawa and then to Portage la Prairie. At Portage, she set up from scratch the Physio clinic at the newly formed #3 Casualty Re-training Center. In October 1944 she was posted overseas, serving at #9, and then at #24 Canadian General Hospital in England. Returning to Canada in July 1945, Lieutenant Harpham worked at the Convalescent Center, Malton, and then at Christie Street D.V.A. Hospital, in Toronto. After her discharge from the King's service in 1946, she continued to work with veterans at Sunnybrook Hospital, in Toronto, until some years after her marriage to Len Orford in November 1953. In addition to a lifetime of proudly practicing her profession, Elizabeth loved her connection with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, the Nursing Sisters Association of Canada, the Royal Canadian Military Institute, Fort York Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, Havergal College and St. Paul's Anglican Church, Bloor Street. She will be deeply and lovingly remembered by Lieutenant-Commander Clive Orford, his wife Emily-Jane, and their two children, Margaret and Henry, of Ottawa; Neil Orford, his wife Laurie, and their two daughters, Nancy and Louisa, of Orangeville. She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Emily (Peg) Goodman, of Oakville, and nephews Phelps and Roger Goodman and their families. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, November 14. Funeral Service will be held in ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, 227 Bloor Street East, Toronto, at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 15, 2008. A light lunch reception at the Royal Canadian Military Institute, 426 University Avenue, Toronto, will commence at approximately 1 p.m. following the burial. If desired, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of choice, would be welcomed by the family. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.