STRICKLAND, Erma Aletha (nee Seeley) - After recently suffering a stroke, Erma passed away in her 94th year on June 14, 2020.
Erma was born in Mainsville , Ontario on October 29, 1926 to her cherished parents, Lucy (Alkerton) & Lorne Seeley. When Erma was a child, the family relocated to Oshawa and then to Toronto. At that time, Erma began her long association with Woodgreen United Church.
Shortly, after the Second World War, Erma met her future husband, Roy Strickland, through the Woodgreen Young Peoples’ Group. They were married at Woodgreen on June 19, 1948.
Erma taught Sunday School and, later, while Roy attended university, they supervised the Toronto Boys’ Home associated with the church. Some of the boys kept in touch with Erma and Roy for many years after they left the home.
After graduating from Eastern High School of Commerce, Erma worked at Business Systems and in the office at Town Talk Women’s Clothing store on Danforth Ave. Roy operated Strickland’s Meats on Bayview Avenue for some time during these years.
In the early 1960’s, Erma and Roy bought a summer home at Cedar Beach near Beaverton where they enjoyed relaxing and gardening for several years. When Roy began teaching at Winchester Public School in Toronto, they bought a home on Athlone Rd. in East York. During those years, Erma enjoyed singing with the East York choir and made many friends in her neighbourhood. When their home became too much work as they aged, Erma and Roy moved to an apartment in Garden Court on Bayview Ave. in Leaside.
Just before Roy passed away in March of 2003, after 55 years of a loving marriage, they moved to Donway Retirement Home where Erma lived until her death. Over the years, Erma made many friendships among Donway’s residents especially, for a period of time, with her companion, Ed Spiers, who predeceased her.
Erma was the eldest of six children, three girls and three boys. She was predeceased by her brother, Bill, (survived by Bernadette and Bill’s son, Doug Seeley) and her sister, Ruth Sherman, (deceased Ike & son John) and survived by Ruth and Ike’s children Larry Sherman (wife Louise) and Louise McGeehan.
Erma will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by her brothers, Ken (nieces Donna Allen & Wendy Conroy) and Clare (wife Jo-Anne, and niece and nephew Christine Gillespie &Glenn Seeley) and by her sister, Beverley.
Roy’s nephews, Bill David and Fred Strickland (wife Mary Ellen) and his niece, Jeannette, and her husband Emile Gillezeau will also remember Erma with love as will devoted friends Sandra and Ross Breston and Lil Jones.
According to Erma’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of Erma’s life will be held when it is safe to gather once again.
If you wish to remember Erma with a donation, please choose a charity of your choice.
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