Obituary for Donna Marie Gauntlett
Today we pay tribute to the life and legacy of Donna Marie Gauntlett (nee Hamilton) October 26, 1932 - May 2, 2022; our mom, grandma, and great grandma. After 50 plus years our mom is finally reunited with our dad Harold Arthur Gauntlett. Survived by her children Barry (Bernadette), Brian (Pam), Barb (Jacqui); Grandma to Matt (Yelena), John (Jenn), Steve (Ashleigh), Mary, Jackie (Evan); Great grandma to Hailee, Dylan, Spencer , and Aiden. Survived by her sister Betty Hannah, many nephews, nieces, in-laws, and friends near and far. Predeceased by her loving husband Harold Arthur Gauntlett ( October 15, 1971). Look out dad, mom may not be totally over your sudden and untimely exit! Predeceased by her parents Grace (1972) and Frank (1973), sisters Lorraine (1979), Shirley (2009), Raeleen ( 2014), Marion (2015), Fran (2016), Isabell (2016), Violet (2015), and nephews Murray Elliott (1967), and Wayne Elliott ( 2019).
Our mom was born on a farm in Ashfield parish, neighbouring Lucknow Ontario to Frank and Grace Hamilton. Mom was the middle daughter of nine girls! Our granddad was so excited to eventually have sons-in-laws, that he had a shack on the property he claimed to use for sharing and teaching them the art of hunting. Our mom, her sisters, and their mom would meet at the family farm outside Lucknow, have drinks and chat about their husband's lists of 'physical ailments' upon returning the following morning with little else to show from their ‘supposed' hunting trip! The Hamilton sisters claim to fame was their fierce devotion to family and each other with a swift ‘box to the ears’ to help you get back in line.
While three of mom's sisters fled to the City of London, our mom upped the ante. Once mom completed nursing school in Woodstock, she and two other women she befriended, answered an add: “Nurses Welcomed to the Beautiful Island of Bermuda!” (Accommodations and transportation costs included, for a one year commitment.) Off to Bermuda they went. There they met group of Bermudian men, who were all good friends (three to be exact). Mom married her Bermudian, Harold Gauntlett - the love of her life, and our dad. Us kids, all proudly claim to be Bermudian/Canadians as my brothers and I were born in Bermuda and lived there for a number of years before leaving. Mom shared with me that we also had a short stint in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Story behind that one for sure! In the end we landed in London, Ontario at 55 Wood Street.
In London, mom had acquired a nursing position at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a OR nurse. Her legacy reaches all of who she was in both her private and professional life. Mom was the nurse requested to travel to the US to be trained on the first ever Laser machine purchased in Ontario. Mom then was tasked with teaching the doctors how to use this device, and complete the regular maintenance/repairs, until the appropriate technicians were in place. Ending her career as head OR nurse, our mom was so well respected by the surgeons, nurses and other OR staff she worked with, that her retirement party included a limousine drive to a hanger just outside London - to a crowd of people who filled her night with expressions of gratitude, respect, and I think a little bit of fear.
Knowing our Aunts well, in the early years of mom being a widow, they would gossip (never a one would admit) when she was out of the room wondering how the date with the surgeon went. A collective disgruntled sigh, and a “no second date!” would follow. While another Aunt pitches in, barely containing her own fit of laughter, to say: "with those three brats for children, her options are dwindling." Our mom's 'silence of disapproval' would quickly burst into laughter as she could no longer keep a straight face. Mom would look straight at the three instigators, who were turning red from trying (not so hard) to contain their laughter, and say: "Okay you buggers, I am letting you know, if you choke, I'm off duty!” Mom devoted her life to her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and without question her sisters. She will never be forgotten, will always be missed, and forever remembered for her wit and ’no nonsense' straight to the point attitude, endless love and support. “You're never too young for me to box your ears."
The Gauntlett family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the 2nd floor nurses, PSWs, cleaning staff and all others who work at The Jacob in Beamsville, ON for the caring and compassionate support you gave our mom during the three difficult months she lived there. An extra shout out to the nursing staff who had the right dose of humour in caring for of one of their own - as mom made perfectly clear ‘not to try and pull anything over on her’!
The family would also like to thank Joseph Brant Hospital, 4th floor ICU unit, for the care, respect, and dignity you showed not only to our niece who is a nurse in the ER and her fellow co-workers - but to our entire family. The keepsakes made by the volunteers and ICU staff given to myself and my brothers, and the guidance from Ed, our mom’s nurse at the time, provided our family a chance to breath and rest. Kudos to our niece Jackie. You are now the last one who not only got her 'ears boxed' once...but four times! All while trying to assist your co-workers with the necessary care your grandma needed - but was fiercely not going to stand for!
As per our mom’s wishes, there will be no service, and cremation has taken place. A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Intensive Care Unit, Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington ON, or a charity of your choice.
Our mom was born on a farm in Ashfield parish, neighbouring Lucknow Ontario to Frank and Grace Hamilton. Mom was the middle daughter of nine girls! Our granddad was so excited to eventually have sons-in-laws, that he had a shack on the property he claimed to use for sharing and teaching them the art of hunting. Our mom, her sisters, and their mom would meet at the family farm outside Lucknow, have drinks and chat about their husband's lists of 'physical ailments' upon returning the following morning with little else to show from their ‘supposed' hunting trip! The Hamilton sisters claim to fame was their fierce devotion to family and each other with a swift ‘box to the ears’ to help you get back in line.
While three of mom's sisters fled to the City of London, our mom upped the ante. Once mom completed nursing school in Woodstock, she and two other women she befriended, answered an add: “Nurses Welcomed to the Beautiful Island of Bermuda!” (Accommodations and transportation costs included, for a one year commitment.) Off to Bermuda they went. There they met group of Bermudian men, who were all good friends (three to be exact). Mom married her Bermudian, Harold Gauntlett - the love of her life, and our dad. Us kids, all proudly claim to be Bermudian/Canadians as my brothers and I were born in Bermuda and lived there for a number of years before leaving. Mom shared with me that we also had a short stint in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Story behind that one for sure! In the end we landed in London, Ontario at 55 Wood Street.
In London, mom had acquired a nursing position at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a OR nurse. Her legacy reaches all of who she was in both her private and professional life. Mom was the nurse requested to travel to the US to be trained on the first ever Laser machine purchased in Ontario. Mom then was tasked with teaching the doctors how to use this device, and complete the regular maintenance/repairs, until the appropriate technicians were in place. Ending her career as head OR nurse, our mom was so well respected by the surgeons, nurses and other OR staff she worked with, that her retirement party included a limousine drive to a hanger just outside London - to a crowd of people who filled her night with expressions of gratitude, respect, and I think a little bit of fear.
Knowing our Aunts well, in the early years of mom being a widow, they would gossip (never a one would admit) when she was out of the room wondering how the date with the surgeon went. A collective disgruntled sigh, and a “no second date!” would follow. While another Aunt pitches in, barely containing her own fit of laughter, to say: "with those three brats for children, her options are dwindling." Our mom's 'silence of disapproval' would quickly burst into laughter as she could no longer keep a straight face. Mom would look straight at the three instigators, who were turning red from trying (not so hard) to contain their laughter, and say: "Okay you buggers, I am letting you know, if you choke, I'm off duty!” Mom devoted her life to her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and without question her sisters. She will never be forgotten, will always be missed, and forever remembered for her wit and ’no nonsense' straight to the point attitude, endless love and support. “You're never too young for me to box your ears."
The Gauntlett family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the 2nd floor nurses, PSWs, cleaning staff and all others who work at The Jacob in Beamsville, ON for the caring and compassionate support you gave our mom during the three difficult months she lived there. An extra shout out to the nursing staff who had the right dose of humour in caring for of one of their own - as mom made perfectly clear ‘not to try and pull anything over on her’!
The family would also like to thank Joseph Brant Hospital, 4th floor ICU unit, for the care, respect, and dignity you showed not only to our niece who is a nurse in the ER and her fellow co-workers - but to our entire family. The keepsakes made by the volunteers and ICU staff given to myself and my brothers, and the guidance from Ed, our mom’s nurse at the time, provided our family a chance to breath and rest. Kudos to our niece Jackie. You are now the last one who not only got her 'ears boxed' once...but four times! All while trying to assist your co-workers with the necessary care your grandma needed - but was fiercely not going to stand for!
As per our mom’s wishes, there will be no service, and cremation has taken place. A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the Intensive Care Unit, Joseph Brant Hospital, Burlington ON, or a charity of your choice.