Our beloved mother completed her journey to the Lord on Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at home attended by a family filled with gratitude for nearly 95 years of love and devotion. Among the many she is now reunited with in Heaven are our father and her beloved husband of sixty-three years, John, her mother Edith, her father Edward, as well as her five brothers and sisters and two grandchildren, Mark and James. Among the many people celebrating her life are her six children, Chris, John (Susanne), Susan (Brian), Tim (Louise), Judy (Murry) and Michael (Shawnee), her grandchildren Christopher, Megan (Russell), Jeffrey, Gillian, Ian (Chantal), Nicole (Bruce), Robert (Colette), Leanne (Stefan), Elissa (Cam), Debbie (Joel), Kim (Scott), Allison (Ed), David (Rachel), Kate (Tanny), Tom (Candice), Sara (Tim), John (Jacqueline), Jenny, Kris, David, Talia, Tecla and Turk, and her thirty-two great grandchildren who all knew her as “Great” – Abby, Eric, Ava, Noah, Jasia, Keziah, Anya, Danika, Riel, Luke, Jesse, Jacob, Dylan, Brooke, Jack, Kate, Ellie, Ava, Noah, Rhys, Mira, Bowen, Zoe, Zander, Zayda, Zara, Tyger, Aysia, Tommy, Jonathon, Preston, plus three on the way – sixty three in all. Joining them are countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Born in Saskatoon on May 9, 1917 of Irish Catholic heritage she grew up a vivacious, outgoing girl, full of fun and laughter. At eighteen she travelled to Winnipeg where she trained as an RN at St. Boniface Hospital. Always adventuresome, on graduation in 1939 she accepted her uncles’ invitation to holiday in England and when war broke out stayed to work in London hospitals. Trained as a midwife, she moved among hospitals delivering babies whilst around her Londoners were enduring the Blitz. It was there amongst many suitors she met a young English doctor with whom she became engaged and married in 1942. They spent the rest of the war and some years afterward practicing family medicine in Sussex. In 1948 they responded to Canada’s post-war call for doctors and left England for a family medicine practice in the southwestern Manitoba prairie. After many adventures of country medicine, including making a makeshift maternity ward and nursery in their home and venturing out to remote farms by horse and buggy or snowshoe, increasing responsibilities in Dad’s medical practice took them to Winnipeg, where they raised their family. In 1984, retirement took them to Victoria and many full years of enjoyment of being in a home by the sea.
Toni and John were devout in their Catholic faith and support of Catholic education, including being involved in administrative positions and active service both in Winnipeg and Victoria. They were active parishioners of Holy Cross in Victoria. Mum’s real passion was family. She loved exploring the beauty of gardens and forests, and especially taking the scenic drive around Victoria’s coastline.
She was a loving mother and grandmother whose home was always open to the many frequent visitors, especially all the children who were her constant delight. Sunday supper was the tradition, and “Grannie’s place” was the headquarters for family and friends from all over two continents. She was very simply the glue that bonded together a far-flung family and by so doing bestowed on everyone that wonderful blessing that is a close family.
Special thanks to Leah Danila, an angel, for her wonderful and loving care to our mother in her final days.
A Mass in celebration of her life will be held at Holy Cross Parish, on Tuesday, February 21st, at 1 pm.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
30 Responses
My love and prayers are with you and your family.
Your friend Emilia and Family
What a lovely tribute to your mother. Toni and John really always went to great efforts to keep the family linked together….traveling all the way to Georgian Bay with their brood in 80 degree heat. She will be fondly remembered for her unending love and constant welcoming open door. I feel so fortunate to have shared special occasions and many family moments with her and the family. Her memory will be forever engraved in my heart along with your dad, and Ronnie and Rustie alongside my parents. I’ll see you all Tuesday. Love Patricia
My thoughts are with you all today. Please accept my sincere condolences. Your Mom was a lovely woman, whom I was also honoured to call “Mom”. I wish I could be there on Tuesday. Love to you all, Vicki
Mrs Scatliff was a wonderful woman whose laughter peeled often. She embraced us neighborhood children warmly with a glint of understanding and kindness in her eye. Her home felt like my second home. I still hear her voice in my head sometimes with aphorisms like:
“If wishes were horses, beggars would fly.”
She was a great example to me of getting your priorties right, strategic thinking and loving fully.
It was with sadness that I heard of your mothers passing yesterday. She and your dad were truly a couple to be marvelled. They were able to build a “family bond” of the highest standard. Toni was the one who saw to it and as you have said the glue that held it all together. . I also remember many trips that were spent together. Some historic in nature and other just to explore. I remember the tranditional family suppers and picnics in the park They were always arranged around family and family celebrations. Toni and John have set high standards for us all. I also remember how she liked to have fun whether it be playing charades or little practical jokes on the unexpected. You could always see the twinkle in her eyes. I also remember being introduced to sunday suppers of roast bef, potatoes, thick gravy and yorkshire pudding. She was a great cook and put on sunday spreads that are hard to surpass.There were always the games to play after supper. She will be missed by her family and friends. May they be comforted at this by her memories. Memories will replace grieving in time. Thanks Toni and John for your contributions, values and memories. ps. I have spent many time camping the the Quapplle Valley near Regina. Chers for now. Doug Calder
We are so sorry for your loss
Mrs. Scatliff was a wonderful person and will sadly be missed.
She was very caring and always easy to talk with.
Ouir thoughts are with you at this time
Darlene and George Christie
We are so sorry for your loss. What wonderful memories we all have of both your Mother and Dad. We are praying that God will comfort and hold you in His arms at this time. Love to all of you. Ken and Lorraine
To our dear friends, Susan and Brian, Judy and Murry, their children and not-so kids,
Toni was a dear, sweet soul that even those of us who are outside the family knew to be very special. She always had a smile in her heart and a joke or witty saying on her lips. Most of her sayings were Toni originals. She will be missed by many – a loving, caring lady.
We are so sorry that we cannot be there to lend our support.
Prayers and loving thoughts from
Gary & Carie
I want to send my thoughts to all of you at this difficult time…I will always remember the countless Sunday dinners at Grannie’s house where you all made me feel so welcome as Megan’s guest.When I wrote to Grannie when she lost her husband,she sent me a hand written letter asking after me and my life in England and filling me in on hers and updating me on all of you.I feel privileged that Megan and all of you let me be a part of your wonderful family over those few years.
Warmly, Marianne Law
Debbie and Joel and family,
May this be a time of reflection on the wonderful life of your grandmother and joys of family.
Nancy Foro