Obituary for Ethel Marie Kerr
It is with love and a profound sense of loss that we announce the passing of Ethel Marie Kerr on July 3, 2022 following a prolonged stay at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington, Ontario. She was 91 years old.
Ethel was the cherished wife of Bruce Climie Kerr and beloved mother to James and Brian Kerr. She was also an aunt to many nieces and nephews whose kind words and messages of support have been a great comfort during this difficult time.
Pre-deceased by her parents, Olaf Alfred and Hilda Marie Olson, as well as her bothers Walter and Earl, Ethel is survived by her sister, Vivian.
Ethel was born in Leroy, Saskatchewan and grew up in the nearby community of Kamsack where her father ran a successful General Contracting business and served the community as Fire Chief and Town Mayor.
After completing her post-secondary education in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ethel made her way to Hamilton, Ontario where she took a job at Westinghouse Canada. It was at Westinghouse that she met her husband, Bruce. Ethel and Bruce were married in May 1955 and took up residence in West Burlington where they raised their family.
Once sons James and Brian were enrolled in school full time, Ethel returned to the workforce. She worked at several local companies before taking a permanent position as Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Great Lake Research Division at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters; a federal government research facility located on the Burlington Beach strip. Ethel retired in 1995, having gained many treasured friends and acquaintances during her 20 years at CCIW.
Upon retiring from CCIW, Ethel volunteered with a Suicide Prevention Hotline helping troubled callers by listening to their difficulties, providing reassuring advice and directing them to other mental health support resources. The degree to which she made a difference is known only to those who spoke with her in their time of need.
In all aspects of her life, Ethel was guided by her positive outlook and her personal faith in God. She and her husband were founding members of Aldershot Presbyterian Church in Aldershot. Ethel later became a church elder; providing leadership, guidance and spiritual support within the church community. In later years, Ethel was also an active member of a Bible Study group where she made many close friends.
During her life Ethel has been a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an aunt, a friend, a role model, and so many other things, but most of all she has been a truly good person. We will miss her warmth, calming influence and gentle support, but we feel immensely blessed to have had Ethel in our lives.
In closing, Ethel’s family would like to take the opportunity to thank the ICU doctors, nurses and staff at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital. Thank you for looking after Ethel in such a professional, compassionate and caring way. And thank you for the smiles you shared.
A live stream of the service can be accessed here: Livestream Link
Ethel was the cherished wife of Bruce Climie Kerr and beloved mother to James and Brian Kerr. She was also an aunt to many nieces and nephews whose kind words and messages of support have been a great comfort during this difficult time.
Pre-deceased by her parents, Olaf Alfred and Hilda Marie Olson, as well as her bothers Walter and Earl, Ethel is survived by her sister, Vivian.
Ethel was born in Leroy, Saskatchewan and grew up in the nearby community of Kamsack where her father ran a successful General Contracting business and served the community as Fire Chief and Town Mayor.
After completing her post-secondary education in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ethel made her way to Hamilton, Ontario where she took a job at Westinghouse Canada. It was at Westinghouse that she met her husband, Bruce. Ethel and Bruce were married in May 1955 and took up residence in West Burlington where they raised their family.
Once sons James and Brian were enrolled in school full time, Ethel returned to the workforce. She worked at several local companies before taking a permanent position as Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Great Lake Research Division at the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters; a federal government research facility located on the Burlington Beach strip. Ethel retired in 1995, having gained many treasured friends and acquaintances during her 20 years at CCIW.
Upon retiring from CCIW, Ethel volunteered with a Suicide Prevention Hotline helping troubled callers by listening to their difficulties, providing reassuring advice and directing them to other mental health support resources. The degree to which she made a difference is known only to those who spoke with her in their time of need.
In all aspects of her life, Ethel was guided by her positive outlook and her personal faith in God. She and her husband were founding members of Aldershot Presbyterian Church in Aldershot. Ethel later became a church elder; providing leadership, guidance and spiritual support within the church community. In later years, Ethel was also an active member of a Bible Study group where she made many close friends.
During her life Ethel has been a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an aunt, a friend, a role model, and so many other things, but most of all she has been a truly good person. We will miss her warmth, calming influence and gentle support, but we feel immensely blessed to have had Ethel in our lives.
In closing, Ethel’s family would like to take the opportunity to thank the ICU doctors, nurses and staff at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital. Thank you for looking after Ethel in such a professional, compassionate and caring way. And thank you for the smiles you shared.
A live stream of the service can be accessed here: Livestream Link