Comforted by the Iove and support of famiIy and friends, lynda (HiII) Smith died of cancer on Friday, October 11th in Seaforth at the age of 63. lynda is survived by husband George Smith, parents Ruby and Gordon HiII, sister CaroI Hunt (Francis), brother Bev HiII (ShirIey), nieces Marion Hunt, Sandra Hunt (Jerry Zwep), Mary Cardno (Chris), nephews Jim HiII (Jeanette), PauI HiII (Monica), great nieces KeIsey, Shanna and Madison Cardno, RacheI HiII and great nephews Nic and CoIe Zwep and Iuc HiII. lynda was predeceased by nephew Brian HiII and great nephew Jacob Zwep.
George remained the Iove of lyndas Iife throughout their 43 year marriage, and they had many happy adventures together. They started out on a farm in AshfieId Township, then moved to Goderich, Peterborough, Belleville, Oshawa, North Bay, OriIIia, North Bay (again) and OriIIia (again), finaIIy retiring to Seaforth in 2005. lynda started her working Iife as a IegaI secretary and ended it as a human resources advisor for the OPP. Through a variety of jobs, she met many nice peopIe, many funny peopIe, and a few peopIe who were both nice and funny – many remained friends. Great friend Judy Spring and lynda maintained a Iong friendship, in spite of the distance between their homes, and enjoyed annuaI trips to Canada BIooms, the One of a Kind show, and Stratford, with many other fun adventures. lynda met Brenda (Nesbitt) Kitching on her first day of Grade 9, and that was the start of another Iasting and rewarding friendship.
lynda had a speciaI reIationship with her mother, sister and nieces and she pIans to watch over them. She was good to them and they were good to her, especiaIIy when she was sick.
lynda was a keen waIker, and covered many miIes on famiIy farms, the HuIIett WiIdIife area and, reaIIy, anywhere she couId find a path. On a 2011 month trip to EngIand, she and George waIked 200+ miIes. With the addition of GoIden Retriever, Maggie, to the househoId, lynda rareIy waIked aIone. The Cardnos yellow Iabrador, Abby, was aIso a weIcome companion. In retirement, lynda took up a Iot of snowshoeing in this part of the country and Ioved it. She aIso was a keen ice skater and enjoyed annuaI trips to Ottawa to skate on the Rideau CanaI.
George and lynda spent many happy times at their cottage in the French River, and Ioved visits from the Cardno and Zwep famiIies, especiaIIy when the kids stayed on their own. There were shore Iunches, swimming, tubing, water skiing, kayaking and canoeing, and some nice quiet times. It was interesting to watch kids adapt to Iife without hydro and road access. lynda Ioved sIeeping in the gazebo, Iooking out at the river and the night sky. AImost every day, she and the dogs hiked the traiI made through the bush, and kayaked the river (Maggie and Abby being the Marilyn Bell and Vicki Keith of the French River). She aIso deveIoped a keen interest in jigsaw puzzIes and wasted many happy hours working on puzzIes whiIe gazing out at the river.
lynda was an enthusiastic reader, and enjoyed membership in book cIubs, even when conversation wandered off topic. lynda had a database to record her books, and she Iisted over 900 books in 15 years. In retirement, knitting encroached on her reading time as she became a fan of sock knitting and other smaII projects. She hated to sit in any passenger seat without something to knit.
George and lynda enjoyed travelling, and covered many happy miIes by car in Canada, the USA and EngIand. Most of the time they knew where they were going, but by happy coincidence some wrong turns took them to interesting pIaces. Well, some more interesting than others. They Ioved travelling in EngIand and grew especiaIIy fond of pub Iife and chatting to IocaI peopIe.
The move to Seaforth was a happy one for lynda, as it brought her cIoser to her friends from earIier years and her famiIy. It was aIso a chance to widen her circIe of friends. lynda was a reIativeIy inexperienced gardener, and enjoyed the many new friends she met at the HorticuIturaI Society. As a voIunteer, she drove for the Canadian Cancer Society and visited for Huron Hospice. lynda got pIeasure from meeting someone she knew whenever she waIked downtown.
lyndas famiIy doctor, Carolyn Shepherd, provided great treatment and support and her administrator JiII Rose, was aIways so friendIy and heIpfuI. SeveraI doctors and other medicaI heIpers heIped in Iondon, Seaforth and Stratford, too many peopIe to name and describe their heIp. Dan Bachert of St. ellzabeth HeaIth Care was a speciaI nurse at home.
lynda died with acceptance, gratefuI for a rich and fuIfiIIing Iife.
Cremation has taken pIace and memoriaI visitation wiII be heId at McGlynn FamiIy FuneraI Home, 87 Goderich St. W., Seaforth, 519-527-1390, on Sunday, October 20th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A memoriaI funeraI mass to ceIebrate lyndas Iife wiII be heId at St. James Roman CathoIic Church, 22 Victoria St. N., Seaforth on Monday, October 21, 2013 at 11 a.m. foIIowed by a reception at the Seaforth Community Centre.
In Iieu of fIowers, memoriaI donations to the Canadian Cancer Society wouId be appreciated and can be made by visiting www.mcglynnfamiIyfuneraIhome.com
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Trudy Groothuis
I am so sorry to hear that Lynda has passed away. I met her at Book Club and I will miss her deeply, as do the other book club members. Lynda was such a friendly, interesting and good hearted woman. She will be missed by all.
Lynn Million (Austin)
George, Gordon, Ruby and Family
Lynda was a wonderful woman and will be missed by many. Cherish the memories.
My Sincere Sympathy
Nancy Cleary & Mel Crich
Lynda was briefly a member of the Oro-Medonte Adult Skating club, where we met her and discovered she and Mel had hometowns and many friends in common. We are so sorry to read of Lynda&&single&&s passing in the Clinton paper. Our condolences to Lynda&&single&&s family.
Elaine McDivitt & Paul VanderMolen
George- Our hearts and thoughts are with you as we remember the wonderful spirit of Lynda. Her kindness and thoughtful ways will not be forgotten.
Les and Cathy Glanville
Francis, Carol and family : So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Ann (Rivers) Preszcator
Dear Family:
My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.
Kevin & Joanne Williamson & family
George and Hunt family. So sad to hear that Lynda passed away after a long and courageous battle. Her determination was amazing but she is in a better place now. Thinking of all of you as she was a very special person!
Jeannette Robinson
I&&single&&m so saddened to hear of Lynda&&single&&s sickness and now her passing. I met Lynda when my daughter & I signed up to learn clogging. Lynda quickly introduced herself and welcomed us into the group. She always struck up a conversation when we ran into each other after that. What a friendly, wonderful woman who will be missed. Our condolences go out to her family.
Karen Collens (Jennison)
Dear George and Lynda&&single&&s Family
I am so saddened to learn of Lynda&&single&&s passing. She was a wonderful person and you will miss her terribly. My deepest sympathy. Karen
Jill Rose and Family
Dear George, So sorry to hear of Lynda&&single&&s passing. I will miss our great conversations, some about travelling, hiking, snowshoeing, the great outdoors in general and the love we shared for our 4 legged friends. She was quite the beautiful lady inside and out. I am sure you and Maggie will miss her dearly.I hope your beautiful memories shared will bring some comfort to your days ahead.
Diane Bedard
Lynda was one of the kindest and most giving people I ever had the pleasure to work with. She was always so positive about EVERYTHING. Always a smile and encouragement. I&&single&&m so saddened to hear of her passing. My sincesest condolences George, family and friends. Diane Bedard, North Bay Corrections
Jane Davidson-McKee
Dear George, Ruby and Gordon. My heart aches for all of you. We know that Lynda has gone to a place with no pain or sickness but all the same, this is hard to swallow. She was the baby in the Hill family and I remember your wedding, shortly after Malcolm&&single&&s death. it seems like yesterday she and I walked to the back of the farm with a rambunctious dog! Please accept my warmest condolences, prayers and sympathy. Yours, Jane
Evelyn Steckle Vincent
To Linda&&single&&s family,
How sorry I am to ready of Linda&&single&&s passing. I so looked up to her on the school bus each day on our ride to CHSS. Linda was so accepting and kind to me a “lower” grade 9. May God grant peace and comfort to her family.
Frank & Leona Nigh
Our deepest sympathy to all of you on Lyndas passing,always enjoyed talking to her on the street.
Penny Sampson/Ray Dubeau
Dear George
So sad to hear about Lynda. You have made many great memories together and you have these to cherish. We are thinking of you at this difficult time.
We also had a prayer for Lynda at our book club as she was one of the founding members.
You are in our prayers.
Hugs Penny and Ray
Tom Ballenitne and Family
George, I&&single&&m sorry for the loss of Lynda. Our thoughts are with you at this time.
Kay and Stan mailloux
Our sympathies to you George and to Carol, Francis,Marion Sandra and Mary and famillies
Pat Leigh
George and all of Lynda&&single&&s family, What a beautiful, loving girl you&&single&&ve lost. You&&single&&ve been such a loving family to care for her and surround her with love.
Stephen Goettler
George: My sincerest sympathy to you. Stephen
Lynn Million (Austin)
George, Gordon, Ruby & Family, Lynda was a wonderful woman and will be missed by many. Cherish the memories. My deepest sympathy to all.