Obituary of Valerie Thompson
VALERIE THOMPSON
(née GREENFIELD)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Valerie, on December 7, 2022, after years of a challenging disability. Predeceased by her parents, Vera and Robin Greenfield, she is survived by her dear husband, Hunter; sister, Deborah; two loved cats; family in England and close friends in Toronto, Venice, Italy and Mexico.
Valerie and Hunter were drawn to each other by their shared love of art and collecting. Upon graduation with a fine arts degree from the University of Windsor, Valerie, an Art Historian, contributed for over 25 years as a Director and Curator in public art galleries in Ontario and Alberta, and in founding the Art Gallery of Mississauga. James McNeill Whistler’s etchings of Venice was the subject of her final, solely curated exhibition and catalogue, shown in Venice, Italy, their place of inspiration. Valerie was also a donor and supporter of The British Museum in London.
Married at the Textile Museum of Canada, together for thirty years, Hunter and Valerie toured the world and lived in London, UK, Venice and Mexico. While living in London, Valerie became a paraplegic as a result of a fall, robbing her of joy most days. Returning to Toronto, she was a dedicated volunteer at the Art Gallery of Ontario. She and Hunter assembled art collections which have been donated to the Yale University Art Gallery and the Agnes Etherington Art Gallery (donated by Guardian Capital Group).
She was pleased that the McMichael Canadian Art Collection would be the destination for their Canadian Inuit and Indigenous art collection.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21st in the Church of the Redeemer 162 Bloor Street West (at Avenue Road) Toronto. Interment will be in London, ON, January 5th.
Donations in Valerie’s memory can be made to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg, ON L0J 1C0 or online at https://mcmichael.com/donateonline/. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.
“Dance every day as if it is your last.”
© 2022 Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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