Merion Clèmènt (nee Brough) July 24, 1933, Hartlepool, England – January 20, 2022, Niagara-on-the -Lake, ON. It is with tremendous sadness we announce the passing of Merion Clèmènt in her 89th year on Thursday January 20th in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Beloved mother of Christina (Tina) Clèmènt sister to Winifred McLurg and aunt to Julie McLurg. Merion was born on July 24, 1933 in Hartlepool, England. In her early adult years, she worked as a certified law clerk in Lincoln’s Inn Fields in London. Shortly thereafter she met her Swedish husband, Johan Clèmènt, and moved to Scandinavia where she worked for the Helsinki Steamship Company. They immigrated to Canada in 1956. Embarking on a new chapter, she became the Secretary Treasurer to the Civil Service Association of Ontario (now OPSU). Her non-stop stream of energy was evident and drove her to be a self-made entrepreneur. In 1973, with no previous knowledge of horticulture, Merion purchased Simmons Flowers Inc., established in 1894, one of Canada’s largest floral businesses (then called Simmons & Son). Merion successfully grew her business with her innovative vision of establishing a tropical plant division which added greenery to corporate offices and commercial spaces. In 1987, Merion bought a four storey 100- year-old building on Parliament Street and moved the business to the up-and-coming area of Toronto known as Cabbagetown. At that time her daughter, a Bay Street insurance broker, came on board to work with her mother and together Merion and Tina continued to make Simmons a thriving business for another 35 years. In 1986, Merion was elected President of the Downtown Toronto Business Council, making her the Council’s first woman president since its inception in 1947. Merion also served as President of the Elm Street BIA, President of the Cabbagetown BIA and was on the board of directors of the St. George’s Society of Toronto. Merion decided to retire at the age of 79 and move from downtown Toronto. Together with Tina they moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake and enjoyed 10 wonderful years. She will be greatly missed by her Toronto friends, her community in The Village of NOTL and most of all by her daughter and best friend, Tina. A very special thanks to Dr. Timothy Bastedo of the NNFHT and Dr. Michael Levesque of the Walker Cancer Center for all their amazing attention and care. A heartfelt thanks to Erna Antaya for her steadfast support and love throughout Merion’s journey.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Private family arrangements Have been entrusted to Morgan Funeral Home.
Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.morganfuneral.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Merion Clement Thursday January 20th 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Province: Ontario
Dear Tina, I am so very sorry to hear of your devastating loss. Thinking of you.
Meg.
Dear Tina, My love and sympathy , and most of all Thankyou both for the hours of laughter and travel we shared and parties and all the work you put into the St George’s Society Red Rose Ball flowers each year it will be so hard for you to live without her after the years of retirement ln notl .but there are so many of us who will treasure her memory and the energy she put into everything she did including her many friendships . I would give a lot for one more trip in France with Merion including the carjacking!, Maybe in my next encounter ? I pray you can keep up the Clement positive vibe in the future. Forever a loyal friend and udder mudder Cherry Carnon ….we will have a celebration in better weather. Put your name on the list…🍒❤️