Kathleen Wilhelmina
Gunning
GUNNING, Kathleen Wilhelmina (nee Hitching) -
Peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, December 1,
2011 , surrounded by family. Kathleen was in her 97th year. Beloved wife of
George Clifford Gunning, who predeceased her in April 2005. They were married
for 63 years. Mother of Bill (wife Margaret), Port Coquitlam , BC Oakville , ON Kingston , ON Caledonia , ON Crystal Hamilton , ON
Published in the Toronto December 3, 2011
To that point, her appreciation for life was a gift to everyone around her.
In forty years of knowing her, of having the privilege of being her daughter-in-law, I have too many memories to share here. Mostly I remember her kindness, her rather peppery humor, her straightforwardness. As an army nurse in World War II, she never lost the nurse's keen diagnostic eye, and if you didn't feel well she scanned that eye over you and told you what you should do. Like, go to bed, now!
I remember when my daughter was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, back in 1977, and she flew out from Ontario to help me. She'd never been alone on a plane before in her life, and I didn't ask, but she offered, and we could not refuse.
While I nursed a fractious, difficult baby, she did everything else, cooked, cleaned, kept my 18-month-old son amused. I just didn't have anything left for him, but Nana saved the day, and I will never forget it.
She made the best, and the most, of everything she had. She lived through the Great Depression, then dealt with many lean years while raising four kids by somehow stretching the resources, so that no one ever felt "poor".
Note Mum reflected in the background. I don't remember my Dad-in-law cutting up like this! Bill probably took the photo.
Going steady.
This is what Christmas looked like in 1947. Little Billy in Dad's lap is now 65!
My personal favorite. Surreal, misty, full of love. "Billy + Mummy, 5/6 months."
Lovely bride (1945).
Dedicated nurse.
