Obituary of Nancy Benson

BENSON, NANCY (nee Watson) Nancy Benson died peacefully in the late evening of July 16, 2011, just short of her 87th birthday. She is survived by her children, Erica Benson, Christina Connell, and Mark Benson (Linda Carone); grandchildren, Katie and Charlie Connell; Hazel Houghton; Nicole Tardif; and step-daughters, Ruth Quesnel, Maureen Collins, Jane Osborne and their families. Born August 21, 1924 to the late George Strafford Watson and Margaret Colquhoun, Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Thomas F. Benson (a long-time senior CBC programming executive), her sister, Laurene Watson, and her stepson, Peter Benson (Nicole Tardif). Nancy graduated from Bishop Strachan School and Trinity College, U of T, and was one of the first students at the Banff School of Fine Arts, an experience of which she spoke often with great enthusiasm and fondness. She also loved living in Ottawa when she worked at the National Film Board library. After raising her children in Toronto, she found great pleasure working at Britnell's Bookshop for many years and taking courses in literary criticism and theory taught by Northrop Frye and his students. Classical music, opera, Canadian fine art, literature, and film anchored her life-long passion for the arts, a passion that greatly enriched her life and that of her family. For Thom, she tolerated television. Our gentle, spunky, compassionate, and generous mother and grandmother was cared for, in her last 14 months, with the utmost respect and tenderness by the staff of Cardinal Ambrozic Houses of Providence and for that we are very grateful. A Service of Remembrance will be held in the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A. W. MILES CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue, on Saturday, July 30 at 11 o'clock immediately followed by a reception and refreshments in the Rosedale Room. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.