Obituary for Muriel Rita Cronkwright
Muriel “Molly” Rita CRONKWRIGHT (nee Gibbs)
October 27, 1925 – April 30, 2021
Molly Cronkwright passed away with family at her side at her home on April 30th at the age of 95 years.
Molly was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt whose ready smile, quick wit and incredibly positive outlook will always be held in our hearts and dearly missed. Molly was an inspiration to all of us. She lived by the motto “Do the best you can with what you’ve got” right up to the last weeks of her life as evidenced by her cheerful walks through the halls, saying hello to staff and residents she encountered, despite suffering severe arthritis, Alzhiemers and breast cancer.
Parents Rose and Arthur Gibbs welcomed Molly into the world in Chingford, England in 1925. By 1940, with England at war, Molly joined the workforce and two years later joined the British Army. Molly was very proud to have served her country in the role of airplane surveillance officer at the white cliffs of Dover.
Shortly after the war, Molly emigrated to Canada with her sisters and parents. In 1949, Molly married Jim Cronkwright and they enjoyed over 60 years together. They started a family while in Richmond Hill, Ontario, before moving to Burlington in 1969. Molly was the original “sports mom”, always sacrificing her own interests to enroll and follow her three children in many different activities and sports. She became a huge hockey fan despite never putting on a pair of skates. And her fashion and decorating started to take on more and more of a blue hue, similar to the local NHL team whose memorabilia donned their later residences.
As her children grew up, Molly moved back into the work force at CIBC where she retired in 1983. She and Jim enjoyed a long and adventurous retirement. This included travels all over North America in their beloved “Trans Van” as well many trips to Europe. It also involved some geographic moves, first to Exeter, Ontario then back to Burlington. But family remained the most important aspect of Molly’s life and her six grandchildren brought further fulfillment to their retirement.
Molly was predeceased by her loving husband Jim on Jan 6, 2010 and her sisters Valerie and Margaret. She will be dearly missed by her children: Stephen (Karen), Michael (Lynne) and Lesley (Kevin) as well as her grandchildren: Jennifer (Chris), Heather (Nathan), David (Madi), Allison, Meghan and Will, and her great-grandchild Maxine.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the CIBC Run for the Cure or other charity of your choice in Molly’s memory. Due to the current covid restrictions, a formal funeral is not planned at this time.
Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website: Muriel Cronkwright Obituary - Burlington, ON | Smith's Funeral Home (smithsfh.com)
“WORK HARD – PLAY HARD”
October 27, 1925 – April 30, 2021
Molly Cronkwright passed away with family at her side at her home on April 30th at the age of 95 years.
Molly was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt whose ready smile, quick wit and incredibly positive outlook will always be held in our hearts and dearly missed. Molly was an inspiration to all of us. She lived by the motto “Do the best you can with what you’ve got” right up to the last weeks of her life as evidenced by her cheerful walks through the halls, saying hello to staff and residents she encountered, despite suffering severe arthritis, Alzhiemers and breast cancer.
Parents Rose and Arthur Gibbs welcomed Molly into the world in Chingford, England in 1925. By 1940, with England at war, Molly joined the workforce and two years later joined the British Army. Molly was very proud to have served her country in the role of airplane surveillance officer at the white cliffs of Dover.
Shortly after the war, Molly emigrated to Canada with her sisters and parents. In 1949, Molly married Jim Cronkwright and they enjoyed over 60 years together. They started a family while in Richmond Hill, Ontario, before moving to Burlington in 1969. Molly was the original “sports mom”, always sacrificing her own interests to enroll and follow her three children in many different activities and sports. She became a huge hockey fan despite never putting on a pair of skates. And her fashion and decorating started to take on more and more of a blue hue, similar to the local NHL team whose memorabilia donned their later residences.
As her children grew up, Molly moved back into the work force at CIBC where she retired in 1983. She and Jim enjoyed a long and adventurous retirement. This included travels all over North America in their beloved “Trans Van” as well many trips to Europe. It also involved some geographic moves, first to Exeter, Ontario then back to Burlington. But family remained the most important aspect of Molly’s life and her six grandchildren brought further fulfillment to their retirement.
Molly was predeceased by her loving husband Jim on Jan 6, 2010 and her sisters Valerie and Margaret. She will be dearly missed by her children: Stephen (Karen), Michael (Lynne) and Lesley (Kevin) as well as her grandchildren: Jennifer (Chris), Heather (Nathan), David (Madi), Allison, Meghan and Will, and her great-grandchild Maxine.
If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the CIBC Run for the Cure or other charity of your choice in Molly’s memory. Due to the current covid restrictions, a formal funeral is not planned at this time.
Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family via the website: Muriel Cronkwright Obituary - Burlington, ON | Smith's Funeral Home (smithsfh.com)
“WORK HARD – PLAY HARD”