Died peacefully on November 9, 2022 at 103 years of age. Born September 14, 1919 to Daniel and Gladys (Kynaston) Roberts of Wales and England, Isabel was the fifth of seven children raised in Toronto. In 1943 she married the late Thomas Boardman. Isabel treasured time spent with her family and friends. Cherished mother of Coral (Bill) Martin and John (Helen) Boardman. Special grandmother to the late Jason Boardman, Lisa (Tyler) Bailey, Stephen Martin, and Matthew (Ana) Boardman. ‘GG’ will be greatly missed by her seven great granddaughters Sarah, Soraya, Madeleine, Rachel, Hannah, Rachel and Allison. Isabel also loved spending time with her neighbours, friends and her many siblings and their spouses, their children and grandchildren.
Isabel’s love of nature was unwavering throughout her life. Tom and Isabel raised their children in Grenville Park in Kingston and in North York. In Kingston, while Tom taught science in the local high schools, Isabel co-founded the Kingston Field Naturalist Club and her special interest in birds led her to write a column of bird observations for the newspaper. She attended the Federation of Naturalists Camp to train teachers in nature study. After moving to Toronto, Isabel joined the Richmond Hill Naturalists Club and for several years did nature hikes for school children with the Toronto Conservation Authority. She continued to track bird migration patterns for various organizations throughout her senior years.
Tom and Isabel loved to travel. In 1968, Tom accepted a two year teaching post in Kenya. While there, Isabel volunteered at the local hospital and physiotherapy clinic. The love of travel continued and included many countries in the world, and canoe trips throughout Ontario with friends, and her sister Cynthia’s family. They also enjoyed their Little Kennisis Lake cottage in Haliburton for almost sixty years. Tom and Isabel were active members of the Wilderness Canoe Association.
Isabel was a lifelong learner. She took a variety of dancing, photography, art, swimming and philosophy classes and was a member of the Willowdale Group of Artists. The family will forever cherish her many works of art. An avid swimmer, she taught swimming at the YWCA and was the director of swimming at an Anglican church camp. She and Tom were volunteer dancers with the CNIB members. Isabel enjoyed lectures at York University.
Isabel was always looking to have a good time and as an avid joker, it wasn’t surprising to find a doll’s head in her garden or a rubber snake submerged in the water at the cottage. She’d have everyone dancing to Chubby Checker’s ‘The Twist’ or doing the limbo. Isabel used her first old age pension cheque to purchase a windsurfer and wetsuit and took up the sport which lasted into her 80’s. Her final cannonball off the dock was at age 100.
The family is grateful for the care she received from the staff at Amica Bayview Gardens as well as her private care nurses. A celebration of life will be held May 30, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Eglinton St. George’s United Church. Information can be obtained through Morley Bedford Funeral Services at 416-489-8733.
2022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Isabel Margaret Roberts Boardman 2022..
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Décès pour la Ville:Toronto, Province: Ontario