CUNNINGTON, Joan (nee PITTS) - After 86 years of a full and satisfying life, Joan passed away on Friday, November 20, 2020, at Sunnybrook Hospital, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Loving wife of Roger Cunnington for 56 wonderful years.
Predeceased by Roger, his parents Nancy and Allan, and her parents Winnifred and Joe.
Proud mother of David Cunnington (Rachael) and grandmother of Kate and Molly.
Joan was born in 1934 in southeast London (England). During World War II she was evacuated to the countryside, where she attended school at a catholic convent, and learned French.
After she returned to London, she was active in Girl Guides and Sea Rangers, which prepared her for camping in the Canadian wilderness, and being a leader (Bagheera) of a cub troop in Toronto.
It was also during this time that she began a life-long passion for tennis, and was a ball "boy" at Wimbledon and the Queen's Club tournaments.
In the 1950s her parents took her across the Atlantic Ocean to begin a new life in Canada.
They moved to Toronto, which she "liked from the minute I stepped out of Union Station".
At first she worked as a secretary at IBM, and then at legal firms. She continued her part time education, something that was important to her throughout her life. She and her parents joined the congregation of St. Clement's church, where she made many friendships that continued throughout her life.
It was through St. Clement's, as well as at night classes, that she met Roger. They fell in love, and were married in 1961. Son David arrived 8 years later.
Joan was surrounded by family and good friends throughout her life.
She was also very active in the Grace Church on-the-Hill community, as a choir mother, a chorister herself, and an archivist.
In her words, "I had a good life".
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Sunnybrook Foundation or Grace Church on-the-Hill would be appreciated.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
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