Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Ontario for funeral details
March 2 1932 – June 19 2024
Eileen lived for 92 good years, walking everywhere she could until her last few months. She was unstoppable.
Predeceased by her husband George, her father William John Kidd and mother Maggie Kidd (nee Dougan), her sisters Molly, Margaret and Lucy, her brothers Tommy and William, and by her dear friend Maida Sims and her husband Sean.
She is survived by her son David, daughter-in-law Kari (Krogh) and granddaughter Alyssa. Eileen will be deeply missed by her niece Lynda Kingston and dear friends Janine, Tanya and Tracey, and her good buddy Henry Wai.
Eileen grew up in Larne, a small Northern Ireland town, eating fresh vegetables from her father’s garden near the port, and rowing with her friends to Islandmagee after work. During our family trip to her hometown she shared stories of her mother bringing breakfast to, and older sisters flirting with, the soldiers stationed nearby. She also described many nights hiding in the neighbour’s basement as bombs fell on Belfast.
As a teenager, she trained in the important office skills of the day such as shorthand, rapid fire typing, and precision sums. She came to Toronto in the 1950’s and spent the next 40 years keeping various organizations such as Kodak, The Kiwanis Club at Casa Loma, Metro Housing, the Ontario Association of Children’s Mental Health Centers and Toronto Organics functioning like well oiled machines. Forever generous, in an age of instant food, Eileen’s weekly delivery of homemade oatmeal cookies to the workplace were legendary and much anticipated, and reflect her kind-hearted nature. She taught us that giving is just about the most important thing one can do.
Nothing made Eileen happier than spending every Friday with her granddaughter when Alyssa was little. She arrived with home cooked cookies, pies, and stews, and then they started a full day of outdoor adventure in rain, snow or sunshine – walking, climbing, swinging – that typically ended with cookies and hot chocolate. The tradition of time with Alyssa, along with Dave and Kari, continued as Alyssa grew up with each summer and Thanksgiving on Kamaniskeg Lake, and later on Hay Lake.
You can’t know Eileen without understanding her love of walking. From hiking trips to Nepal, Patagonia and England, with HF Holidays, to walking all over Toronto sometimes for hours in a day, walking was Eileen’s passion, along with tending to her flower gardens. Just five years ago she walked the entire series of Toronto Islands! No doubt all these activities contributed to her long and healthy life.
Her life was not without hardship, but Eileen was resilient, and chose love over harm. Generous and kind, Eileen always said yes. She said yes to family and friends when help was needed, and did so with enthusiasm and a sense of selflessness. Decades ago she said yes to friendship with Maida, disregarding the often stark religious divides of their homeland, and forming a deeply meaningful ‘chosen sister’ friendship that lasted a lifetime and continued with Maida’s daughters.
Although fiercely independent, in her last years she gave us the gift of letting us help her (just a bit) with medical appointments and shopping trips. In what we came to understand were her final months, she gifted us with time together at concerts, restaurants and family home-cooked dinners, and time on the front porch filling the planter boxes with flowers. Mother’s Day, just over a month ago, was celebrated by attending a concert with a favourite Irish singer John McDermott.
Even though it now feels too short, Eileen lived a good long life that touched many. The best of her now lives on in all of those she loved and we are grateful.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank or Acorn Canada.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Tuesday July 9th, 12:00 noon at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto with visitation one hour prior. Reception to follow.
2024
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario
death notice Eileen Jean Gordon nee Kidd
obituaries notice Eileen Jean Gordon nee Kidd
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Eileen Jean Gordon nee Kidd and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
