Parcourez la nécrologie de Dr James Ransom Wilkes 1932- résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles
Jim was an amazing and loving man. We share with great sadness and much love that he died very peacefully at home on Saturday, October 7, 2023 with loved ones nearby, just as he had wanted. While we are bereft, we are so happy he is at peace and without pain, having lived over 91 years with exemplary joy, love and compassion for others.
James was the son of Francis Hilton Wilkes and Victoria Gooderham, and delighted in his life with his 3 equally joyful and spirited brothers who predeceased Jim – John, Peter, and Ted. We are thankful for his happy years of married life with wife Diana Collins Wilkes, and with wives who predeceased him Suzanne Frawley Wilkes and Elizabeth McVittie Wilkes. Jim’s way of knitting together people with love has created a large blended family who miss him very much:
Elizabeth McVittie Wilkes (married 1958-1981)
Judy Durham (Duane), grandfather to Matt and Tim, great-grandfather to Jaxon and Ryan
John Wilkes
Jennifer Colleran (Peter), grandfather to Elizabeth and Rhiannon
Suzanne Frawley Wilkes (married 1982-2006)
Penny Martin (Stephen), GrandJim to Andrew (Tiffany), Geoff (Lindsay), Brian (Rachel)
Douglas Hogath (Lois), GrandJim to Jack and Robin
Wendy Hogarth (Murray Johnston), GrandJim to North, Slater, Rogan and Quinn
Diana Collins Wilkes (married 2008 to present)
Gordon Collins (Beverley), Jim to Olivia (Jesse), Peter, Greg
Phred Collins (Kathy James), Jim to Emily Sky (Darcy), Dylan (Andrew)
Heather Collins (Jack Connelly), Jim to Hannah (Jay), Jack (Hannah)
Jim was a passionate defender of the rights of children, especially those in the child welfare system. A child and adolescent psychiatrist for decades, Jim worked with Catholic Children’s Aid, led the Shoniker Clinic at Scarborough Centenary, and volunteered with the Sparrow Lake Alliance Limbo Task Force. Jim’s education included an MDiv as well as his medical degrees, and he wrote about the intersection of faith, science and mental health in two published books The Gift of Courage and To Wrestle and to Dance. He really valued the opportunity to work with people at the Consent and Capacity board in the last years of his professional life. The family remembers with pride that he was a recipient of the 2008 Stand Up For Kids Award given by the Children’s Aid Societies of Toronto, and the 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award for Leadership in Children’s Services from the Child Welfare League of Canada. We request that any donations made in his name be made to the Children’s Aid Foundation (details below).
While very connected to real-world concerns, his family and friends remember raucous dinners and parties, where spirited discussions and laughter reigned. We can picture him in his beloved Georgian Bay paddling with a loved one and a puppy in the green canoe Elizabeth gave him that Christmas so long ago. He was so happy there.
Jim’s family would like to thank Jim’s doctors Dr. Corbeil, Dr. Kammila and palliative doctor Dr. Morelli, the staff at Dialysis Management Clinic Peterborough particularly Diane for her outstanding care of Jim and Petula for her support of Jim’s family in these last weeks; Community Care Peterborough and associates including St. Elizabeth’s, particularly the loving and frank care of Caitlyn (CBI), Tanis (St. Elizabeth’s) throughout the last 10 days when the family needed such assistance. We thank all the paramedics who so kindly took care of Jim over the last 3 weeks. Finally to Renee for her loving care of Diana and Jim throughout these last days and months.
Visitation with Family
Friday, October 20, 2023, between 5:00PM and 8:00PM
Bedford Funeral Home
159 Eglinton Avenue West (a few blocks west of Yonge on the south side of Eglinton)
Funeral Service
Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 1:00PM
The Church of the Holy Trinity
10 Trinity Square (please note, this is a downtown church)
Reception to follow
holytrinity.to/about/map-and-parking/
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Children’s Aid Foundation are welcome and will honour and extend Jim’s lifelong commitments.
Donate – Children’s Aid Foundation
In memory of James R. Wilkes
2023
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Décès pour la Ville:Toronto, Province: Ontario
avis deces Dr James Ransom Wilkes 1932-
nécrologie Dr James Ransom Wilkes 1932-
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Dr James Ransom Wilkes 1932- et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.