Jean Elizabeth Woodard
1927-2021
It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Jean
Woodard. She was predeceased by her husband, Jim Woodard.
She will be missed by her children, Janice (Ron) Woynarski
and Craig (Pat) Woodard. She proudly and deeply loved her
grandchildren – Tess (Luke) Richards, Lisa (Mike Medaglia) Woynarski,
Caitlin Woynarski, and Katherine Woodard. Her
sister and brother-in law, as well as many nieces and
nephews were very special to her.
Jean grew up in Transcona, Manitoba, as one of 6 children.
After graduating from St. Joseph’s
Academy in St. Boniface she attended the first residential Normal
School in Winnipeg. At age 20 she obtained a
teaching position in Flin Flon, where she met Jim , her husband of 59
years , a handsome geologist working at Hudson Bay Mining and
Smelting. After Janice and Craig were born they moved to
Winnipeg and then to Toronto where Jim set up his consulting
engineering business with his partner to perform geophysical
exploration. The house they purchased in Guildwood
Village was her beloved home for 60 years. Jean
began supply teaching and through the encouragement of a colleague
obtained her Home Economics specialty. She was in her
element in the classroom, sewing and cooking with her students.
She touched the lives of so many as a skilled
educator.
Jean enjoyed an active social life and loved nothing more
than to host dinner parties for her family and friends. She
loved her bridge buddies, playing in several bridge groups and
teaching friends. Jean was an enthusiastic
president of the Retired Teachers Association. She
and Jim loved to travel, they enjoyed many cruises and were able to
visit much of the world. Jean was old school in so many
positive ways that endeared her to her family and friends. She read
the Globe and Mail cover to cover, enjoyed the latest best sellers and
always wore the latest fashions. She was small of
stature, big of heart and overflowing with vibrant energy and
generosity in sharing her talents. We will all greatly miss
her presence in our lives.
Cremation has taken place and an internment will take place
in Toronto at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cambridge Memorial
Hospital Foundation would be appreciated.
She is gone
You can shed tears that she is gone.
Or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back. Or you can
open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her. Or you can be
full of the love that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday.
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she is gone.
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what Mum would have wanted:
Smile, Open your Eyes, Love and Go On.
David Alexander Elder
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Jean Elizabeth Woodard 19272021..
Death notice for the town of: Cambridge, Province: Ontario