Cunningham, Jean Alison (nee Young):
Feb. 1939 – Dec. 2020
After a long courageous battle with cancer, Jean passed away quietly at Grand River Hospital, on December 31st, 2020, aged 81.
Jean is survived by her husband of 59 and a half years, James, her daughters Marion (William) Tilford and Susan Cunningham, and her grandchildren Duncan and Nyssa Tilford.
Jean was born in Falkirk, Scotland, on Feb. 27th, 1939. The only child of William Young and Margaret (Peggie) MacDonald. After graduating from Falkirk High School, Jean attended Logan and Johnston Nursing College in Glasgow and then trained as a registered nurse in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow and later as a midwife in Falkirk Royal Infirmary.
In August of 1966, Jean with her family emigrated to Canada and took up residence in Kitchener-Waterloo. Jean served as a nurse and midwife in both KW (Grand River) Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital. Jean also worked for a time as the office nurse for Dr. Wm. Nurse.
In late 1976, the family moved to Milton, Ontario and Jean served as a nurse in Maplehurst Correction Centre and in a retirement home in Milton. In 1992, the family returned to Kitchener-Waterloo and Jean served as the executive director of the Home Support Program in Cambridge, until her retirement in 1998.
Jean has a love for singing, especially church music, and was always a member of the choir in the church of which she was a member.
Jean was a founding member of the Robert Burns Association of North America, which honours Scotland’s National Bard Robert Burns and served two terms as secretary/treasurer. She was currently a member of the Halton/Peel Burns Club.
Cremation has taken place. Due to the current restrictions, a private family funeral will be held and a memorial service to be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 519-749-8467.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Grand River Hospital Unit 5A for the excellent care and compassion they showed to both Jean and her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Doon Presbyterian Church or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home).
“If there is another world,
She lives in bliss.
If there is none,
She made the best of this.”
– Robert Burns
Visit www.henrywalser.com for Jean’s memorial.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jean Alison Cunningham Thursday December 31st 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Kitchener, Province: Ontario