GUNTER, Sharyn
Date of death: September 25,2021
A family service was held in Toronto on Sunday September 26, 2021. Burial was at the Beth Jacob Cemetery in Burlington following the service.
Sharyn (nee Title) Gunter-Cipin, age 86, formerly of Hamilton, ON and Toronto, ON, passed away peacefully, with her family by her side, on Saturday, September 25th, 2021. She chose to die on her own terms as her cancer had spread significantly, without hope for recovery. Sharyn is predeceased by her husbands, Morton Gunter of Hamilton, and Reuben Cipin, of Glace Bay and Edmonton. She is survived by her children Arthur Gunter, Sheldon Gunter (Laura Ettelman), and Shayla Gunter (Jack Goldstein). She was the adored Buby (“Bubs”) of her grandchildren Kerry and Yael Gunter, and Matti and Ari Goldstein – all who were the joy of her life, as well as Reuben’s grandchildren Dina and Elana Cipin and the others who adopted her as their own Buby too. She was also in love with Reuben’s new great-granddaughter, Ruby, born this year. Sharyn was the glue that held her family together, and was so loved and proud to be an aunt, great-aunt, cousin and more to a large group of diverse individuals. She will be missed greatly by all, more than anyone can possibly imagine. She became a surrogate mom to so many of these wonderful people, especially in the years since their own parents had passed away. Sharyn grew up in Toronto, in the Lower Village, the daughter of one of the partners in the Title Dress Company. After high school, Sharyn studied Early Childhood Education at Ryerson. She became a pre-school teacher and taught in the first pre-school class at Beth Tzedek synagogue. When her first son Arthur, was born deaf, her background in education enabled Sharyn to recognize his disability and that led her to become an advocate for deaf children’s education. She became a trailblazer when she began a preschool for the deaf in Hamilton, where she lived for 25 years, during her first marriage to Morty. She was involved in Hamilton with Beth Jacob Synagogue and the National Council of Jewish Women, where she made life-long friends. She lobbied the government for funding and spearheaded the TASCFLOH program – testing and screening children for loss of hearing – bringing this groundbreaking program to schools, daycares, and libraries across southern Ontario. The TASCFLOH program helped hundreds and hundreds of children to be diagnosed with hearing loss, early enough in their life to make a difference. Sharyn moved to Toronto in 1980 with her three children after Morty’s passing, building a new life that included volunteerism, important non-profit work, and being active in the Jewish community. She wore many hats in a variety of job fields, including the MS Society, and with event registration companies. She had a knack for bringing people together and began matchmaking in the early 1980s. Sharyn made over 40 successful marriages during her lifetime. She also loved travel and adventure and was fortunate to have time to travel across the world when she was in her 50s and 60s, making a myriad of friends along the way, including in the Volunteers for Israel program. Sharyn met her second husband, Reuben Cipin, when they were in their mid-60s, in Toronto. They married in 2005 and spent 20 years together before his passing in 2018. Reuben’s children and grandchildren were like her own, and they were proud to call her Buby. Reuben and Sharyn spent a decade at Two Neptune Drive, and spearheaded many programs together. Sharyn created and edited the Neptune Mirror Newsletter and was vibrant and active in the building. They moved to Amica Thornhill in later years, and their volunteerism and involvement in committees and programs continued. Sharyn was well-loved in both retirement communities. Sharyn’s friendships, whether they lasted a lifetime or only a few short years, meant the world to her. She surrounded herself with genuine, kind, fun, and loving people, and each one held a special place in her heart and in her life, right until the end. Thank you to the cancer and palliative care staff at Princess Margaret Hospital, especially Drs. Nadler, Wasson, and Saltman, and nurses Malka and Sonya. Thank you to Dr. Susan Joyce and Dr. Maxwell Sauder who saw Sharyn through so much since a serious illness in 2018. Thank you also to the wonderful staff at Amica Thornhill, the Central LHIN caregivers, and especially to our extraordinary caregiver, Ellen Soriano. You’ve been there for it all in the past few years. Buby, Mom, Aunty Sharyn. we love you and will miss you so much. There is an empty space in our lives now. May her memory be for a blessing and may her neshama have an Aliyah. Donations welcome in her memory, to Ve’ahavta or Mazon Canada or to the charity of your choice.
The family is accepting outdoor shiva visits until late Friday afternoon, weather- permitting, at 87 Tansley Rd., in Thornhill. Please use the following link to sign up for a visit In-person Shiva Visits Sign-up and Screening Form – Gunter Family Shiva .
There will be a ZOOM Memorial Celebration of Sharyn’s Life on Thursday evening, Sept. 30 at 7:45 p.m. Please join us if you would like to share memories, thoughts, and stories about our mom. The link will be: bit.ly/2Wv7Hpi
Meeting ID: 875 4052 2800 Passcode: 464583
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Sharyn Gunter Saturday September 25 2021..
benjamins park memorial chapel
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario