Obituary of Margaret Cronyn

CRONYN, Margaret Valliere - January 16th, 1922 - April 13th, 2008Mum died peacefully in Toronto at the age of 86. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, James Cronyn and her later-life companion Jack Vaughan. She will be missed by her three children Laleah (Michael Gibson), Peter (Stacey Lister) and Elizabeth (Robert Topping); her grandchildren James and Kristin Macintosh, Tenley and Brooke Gibson, Blythe, James and Laleah Cronyn, Patrick, Katrina and Douglas Topping; her nephews Alex Bovey and Jeff Cronyn and nieces Sheila Woolner, Leslie Punter and Martha Cronyn and former daughter-in-law Liz Barrett. Daughter of Major General WHP and Phyllis Elkins, Val was born in Kingston and lived in Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver and Toronto. She attended Havergal College and spent her summers in Metis Beach. In 1943, Val joined the Canadian Red Cross as an ambulance driver and served overseas in England during the war. After returning and marrying Jim, Val began her volunteer career which spanned five decades. Her volunteerism included the Junior League, the Children's Aid Society, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Canadian Friends of Museums. Val was also actively involved with the Havergal College and the Toronto Golf Club. She always gave generously of herself both to her family and volunteer activities. A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Bradgate Arms and to the caregivers in Vancouver who cared for Mum over the last few years and made her days much brighter as she coped with Parkinson's disease. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue East), from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th. A service will be held on Friday, April 18th at 11:00 a.m. at THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST. CLEMENT, EGLINTON, 59 Briar Hill Avenue, Toronto. If desired, donations to Havergal College, 1451 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario, M5N 2H9, the Parkinson's Society Canada, 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 316, Toronto, Ontario, M2P 2A9 or the Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1G4 would be greatly appreciated. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.