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
The Scatliffe family
We would like to express our condolences to you on the death of your mother.Ray has many memories of your mum and dad’s time spent in Baldur.He remembers his “baby-sitting” times with the boys. The Sacatliffe and Hill family had a special friendship that went on all their lives. I remember your mum coming to Hilton when Dad Hill died suddenly with a heart attack. Other memories were coming to Winnipeg with Mum and Dad Hill in 1956 to buy our 1948 Dodge car for $295 and we all stayed at the Scatliffe home-. We had a 17 month old son and another one on the way–we were assigned the bunk beds!! We were honored to have attended the anniversay celebation in Winnipeg as well as having visited and stayed with your parents in 1986.
We did hear from your parents at Christmas time and will always treasure our memories.
Raymond and Muriel Hill .
We were sadened to hear of your Mom’s passing. Our sincere condolences.
Wally & Lita
Dear family of Toni (and John) Scatliff,
We consider it a privilege to have known both Toni and John Scatliff. They were precious faith-filled and loving people – Toni was always so welcoming and always had a good joke and a twinkle in her eye! We are sorry we could not be in Victoria to celebrate her life with all of you – we were with you in spirit for sure!
Your Mom’s/Grannie’s faith was to be admired. She is now at peace with “her John” who we are sure welcomed her with open arms.
Love to an amazing family – we love you!
Denis and Pat
To the Scatliffe family,
My sincere condolences on the passing of your mother and grandmother. I will remember her fondly.
Your parents were both such wonderful people–something that will continue forever in all of you.
Dennis says “As I had the opportunity over the past 8 years to know John and Toni, I feel very blessed.
Thank you for sharing your family with me. Such a loss.”
Peg says “I’m sorry we are away at this time. Your Mom, she always made me laugh! Dang.”
My thoughts and prayers are with all of those closest to my beautiful Auntie Toni. She was such an amazing woman, one that I think is among the best. She will be greatly missed by us all. Much love to the Scatliffs as they say good bye today. Now my grandma has her best friend back – I can only imagine the mischief they will get up to together up in Heaven. Love, Andrea and the family
Please accept this message of condolence to the Scatliff family from the Sisters, Board and Staff of Misericordia Health Centre in Winnipeg. John Scantiff was a past Medical Director at Misericordia General Hospital back in the 1950’s. We still remember and appreciate all they both did for us. We know John and Toni are together in peace with Father.
Our sincere condolences to the family. Our thoughts
and prayers are with you
Steve & Marilyn Naherniak
Our sincere condolences to Mike, Shawnee and family and to the entire Scatliff family as well.
Respectfully,
Duncan, Angela, Brett, Carey and Shannon Morrison
Dear Susan, I read your Mother’s obituary in today’s Free Press, and I was very saddened to hear of her death, but what a wonderful life she lived, and what a great lady she was!! She was always so kind and interested in us silly Sacred Heart girls!!…………My Mother turned 95 just this past weekend, and she has thoroughly enjoyed watching her Grandchildren grow and have children of their own, as I’m sure your Mother did………….Our sympathies to all your family, Marnie.