Margaret Doris "Jeanne" (nee Hisey) Preston

It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear mother Jeanne Preston, on Sunday November 2, 2025. To us, she was the greatest mother of all. She was 93 years old, and while she is no longer with us, the love, wisdom, and joy she gave us will continue to live on in the stories we tell and the traditions she built.

Jeanne was predeceased by her loving husband of nearly 70 years, Richard Preston. Together, they created a beautiful, enduring partnership, commitment, and mutual respect. Left behind to cherish her memory are their four children: Steve Preston of Stony Plain, AB; Ron Preston (Marie) of Sharon, ON; Lynn Rumble (Dave) of Stouffville, ON; and Susan Johnson (Taylor) of Stony Plain, AB. Jeanne was the proud grandmother of Steven, Jennifer, Amanda, Jacqueline, Aaron, Ryan, Matthew, Andrew, Sarah and Kiana as well as, soon to be, twelve great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Jeanne’s love for family was unconditional, and her ability to make everyone feel welcomed and valued was a gift that we all cherished. She was a calm soul who could weather any storm and a gentle strength in every season of our lives. Jeanne is remembered as “the best sister anyone could have,” a sentiment expressed by her brother Murray Hisey, who recalls her as a kind soul and gentle spirit who never complained about anything.

She was the glue that not only held our family together but that of our extended family as well. How many Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinners did she plan, prepare and host? For nearly 70 years, we all returned to the farm to celebrate and make lasting memories-memories that have created traditions that continue to bind us together. Jeanne was always at the center, ensuring the warmth of her home and her heart was felt by all.

We will forever treasure the sound of her laughter, the scent of her amazing pies, and the comfort of her steady presence. Mom’s pies - apple, strawberry, rhubarb, raisin and peach - Oh, how we wish we could have just one more slice. Dinner was never complete without dessert; if it wasn’t a pie that she “built” for us, as dad would say, we were treated to rice pudding, banana or carrot cake or one of our favourites, chocolate pudding. How did we all stay slim?

Mom was an early riser who loved tending to her garden in the quiet morning hours. She worked tirelessly to put a healthy dinner on the table every day. Nobody can forget her sweet peaches-and-cream corn or her incredible beefsteak tomatoes!

Jeanne’s roots ran deep in Whitchurch Township. Born the first child of Earl Hisey and Verna Johnson, at the home of her grandparents Henry Johnson and Sophia Gillham, located in Lemonville, a place that shaped who she was. Jeanne had 3 brothers-Grant Hisey, Carl Hisey, and Murray Hisey-and one sister, Catherine Altenhof. Upon finishing Grade 12 in Aurora, Jeanne’s work ethic was evident, whether tallying bankbooks at the Royal Bank in Drayton, working at the Manufacturers Life Insurance Company in Toronto or managing the payroll at the T. Sisman Shoe Company in Aurora. In the fall of 1952, she met her husband, Richard, at the local Hunt Club party, and in 1954 they married. Their honeymoon – a road trip in a ’52 Chevy to Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, marked the start of a beautiful journey they would continue for nearly 70 years. Upon returning, they moved into the Preston farmhouse – a place of gathering – a place where memories were made around the dinner table, and laughter echoed through the years.

Living in a small community nurtured many close friendships with nearby neighbours, including dear lifelong friends Margery and Joe Wright, whom they spent many joyful years and made countless memories with. Together, Rick and Jeanne joined a square dance club, where they met their close friends Wally and Jerry Stewart and Ken and Connie McDowell. They often spent weekends together at their cottages near Huntsville, where laughter and friendship filled the air.

Mom attended Wesley United Church, where she enjoyed seeing relatives and friends and catching up on community news. Upon retirement she continued to serve her community – whether it was helping with local funerals or special services as a member of the United Church Women or serving as the hall secretary, being a proud member of the Vandorf Women’s Institute or serving on the Dixon Hill Cemetery board. Mom also volunteered at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Museum, assisting with events such as the Victorian Tea, car show and candlelight tours, where she and Dad portrayed Mr. and Mrs. Brown in the Brown House. Many memorable hours were spent at the museum making good friends along the way.

Among Mom’s many hobbies were stitching, cake decorating, furniture restoration, flower arranging and rug hooking, many of which have become family treasures.

She fondly recalled teaming up with her father to win many Crokinole tournaments at small-town halls. Her “Old Crow” nickname, to a select few, stuck after she once misheard us say she was an “old pro” at the game-a mix-up that always brought laughter.

Once retired, Rick and Jeanne enjoyed travelling west every year to visit family and took many memorable trips, including St. Petersburg, Russia; Branson, Missouri; Texas; and many parts of Europe including Germany and Crete, where they visited their dear friend Gaby.

The last two years of Jeanne’s life were spent in the caring hands of the staff at Sunrise Retirement Home in Aurora. We are deeply grateful for the compassionate care she received and the comfort she found there in her final years.

Following cremation, a private family service will be held in the spring of 2026, with interment taking place at Dickson Hill Cemetery.

Mom’s love for us was constant, her strength unwavering, and her spirit unbreakable. She was the quiet force behind everything we did, and her absence will leave a hole in our hearts that cannot be filled. But we take comfort in knowing that the legacy she created—the love she gave, the lessons she taught, and the traditions she built—will continue to guide us.

“Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day.”