Gwendoline Rosemary Fisher

Mum grew up in Palmers Green, N. London, England. She was born on April 15th, 1933, to doting parents Florence and Edwin Carrick. She was a very happy, secure little girl, surrounded by loving relatives. Although she was an only child, she had plenty of extended family to keep her company.

Family holidays were spent at a farm in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, every summer. Mum's maternal grandparents had an old bus converted into a camper for all the family. There were ten aunts and uncles, plus their families! Every year they rented a field from the farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Milton. The bus was in a back field, tucked in a corner. Auntie Emmie and Uncle Mick (lived in Tottenham then) had a small van in the front field. Great Auntie Em and Auntie Mercy (lived in Southall) had a small van in the same field as Mum's Grandad, along the hedge. Mum would get up early to go foraging for mushrooms with her cousins, and they had all kinds of adventures. Mum often said how wonderful her Grandad was, making sure that all their needs were met, and that they had a fabulous time together.

During WWII Mum was known locally as "The Shrapnel Girl" because she went door to door collecting pieces of shrapnel that people may have picked up. These were then sent off to be recycled, as metal was in great demand for defence purposes. Mum was very proud of her role in the war effort. A large bomb landed in the next street from Mum's house, but it didn't go off. The impact of the bomb's landing shattered windows in all the surrounding houses, including Mum's. Many children were evacuated from that area, but because Mum had some issues with her ears, her mother kept her in London. Mum was grateful for that. Some of her friends were sent to Wales, and when they returned, no-one could understand them!

Mum went to St. Angela's convent school in London, where she had many friends. She lost touch with some when the family moved to Canada, but reconnected with them later in life, and was still in touch, right to the end.

Mum always claimed that she led a "charmed" life. Her dad would bring home special treats for her and her mum. Sometimes it was "Black Magic" chocolates. A big box for our Nanny, and a little box for Mum to have all to herself. They went annually to Broadstairs (a favourite holiday spot in England). Her parents took her often to the theatre, where they had a box. They would be served high tea in the box by a liveried footman.

When Mum was little, she believed in fairies ... and that early love for magic and fantasy never left her. She knew all the fairy lore, and had a rich and vivid imagination, which made her a great storyteller. She had books about fairies, artwork, and figurines throughout her home, and fairy statuettes placed about her garden. She had a sign that stated, "There are fairies at the bottom of my garden". Mum had two framed prints she had kept from her childhood bedroom. One of a little girl kneeling in a woodland clearing, and another of a young piper reclining under a tree, both being visited by fairy spirits. They graced the wall of the guest bedroom in her apartment. Magic was part of Mum's life from an early age, and she brought that magic with her into every home, and every era of her life.

Mum joined the R.S.P.C.A. in England. She loved all animals. Her first pet was a cat named Pussykins. Over the years, we had a myriad of family pets. Among them were budgies, hamsters, gerbils, goldfish, rabbits, cats, dogs, canaries, doves, zebra finches, a rat, and a snake. We even had a pet sparrow that had fallen out of its nest! Mum always knew how to nurse them if they were unwell, and loved them all.

Growing up, Mum was absorbed with classical music, the composers and performers alike. She and her best friend Sylvia were avid concert goers. They attended the "Proms" (short for Promenade Concerts) every year. Music uplifted Mum and carried her through life's ups and downs. Visitors to Mum's apartment in Cambridge could usually hear classical music filling her home with glorious sounds, bringing her much joy.

Mum also loved to sing, and joined quite a few choirs over the years. She could hardly believe it herself, when she reminisced about the time she sang a solo with her choir, at the Royal Albert Hall! In recent years she sang herself hoarse a few times, accompanying the old reruns of "The Lawrence Welk Show" on television.

Mum's love for India began as a child. Her aunt Alice lived in Delhi, running a Leprosy mission with her husband. Anybody who knew Mum, knew of her beautiful Indian gold bangles. Auntie Alice gave these to her when Mum was a young woman, and told her to wear them often, not hide them away somewhere "safe". Mum wore them almost every day.

She met our dad, Edward Thomas Fisher, at a table-tennis club when she was 17. He was newly arrived in England, from India. They became engaged two years later on Valentine's Day, and she married at the age of 21, in 1954. They honeymooned in Austria, which became the first of so many countries that they visited over the course of their married life. Mum and Dad were passionately interested in all peoples, cultures and civilisations. In 1969 they took a Greek cruise. Mum rode a donkey! They travelled through Europe for their silver anniversary. Mum dreamed of going to India some day, and Dad made that dream come true. He took Mum there for their ruby anniversary. They had a fascinating time in India. Mum rode a camel, and even held a tiger cub in an Indian zoo.

Mum would plan our family weekends and tell Dad what we were doing. She loved to pack up hearty picnics and Dad would drive us out to various parks, including Hyde Park, St. James' Park, Kew Gardens, and Hampton Court.

In 1970 Mum and Dad moved the family to Canada. Dad's two brothers had already emigrated here, and they helped to orientate our family when we first arrived. Mum and Dad settled down in Malton, Mississauga, and never moved again.

The first few months in Canada were spent in a rented house in Etobicoke. This gave Mum and Dad some breathing space to "get the lay of the land". Our family met the Hopkins' family on our last day in Etobicoke. The family we rented a house from were out of the country, and wouldn't be returning until a few days after we vacated the premises. Mum had to hand over the house key to Joy Hopkins (who lived down the road from the rented house). That brief, chance encounter became the seed for a deep friendship. Not only did Mum and Joy become fast friends for the rest of their lives; all of the Fisher family forged friendships with all of the Hopkins' family!

After the move to Canada, Mum found new settings for the family picnics. They took place in High Park, Edwards Gardens, Centre Island, and similar green spaces around Toronto and Mississauga.

Our first family holiday in Canada was spent camping in Algonquin Park. (We borrowed a camper trailer from the Hopkins'.) We also had holidays in cottages near Parry Sound. Mum didn't mind that these sorts of holidays meant extra work for her ... it was her pleasure to look after her family, and she did it to the very best of her ability at all times.

Not content with looking after her own four lively children, Mum decided that we should foster a child. First to join our ranks was Kimberley, who celebrated her second birthday in our family. After Kimberley came Lucy, who was three years old. Mum loved her family, and was glad to take in more.

Over the years, Mum and Dad regularly went to dinners and dances, and wine-tastings with friends. At one of these occasions, Mum didn't want to stop dancing when her feet began to hurt, so she kicked her shoes off and kept going. She danced for so long, her stockings had holes in them!

Mum and Dad also enjoyed going to the theatre, and often took in the show at "The Royal Alex" in Toronto, and other venues. Mum once had a great thrill when they went to see Liberace perform. He spoke to Mum (in the front row) from the stage - they had a very brief conversation about his rings, and hers - and she was in seventh heaven!

Mum's first job (other than babysitting) was at the Scheduling Dept. of the London Transport Head Office. She handled very heavy ledgers, into which she entered information with her impeccably neat handwriting. While she was there, she sold a line of kitchen accessories to her colleagues. There were sets of knives, mixing bowls, rolling pins, etc. While earning a little extra money, she also earned kitchen accessories for her own home.

Mum and Dad used to ride the trains in to work everyday. They travelled together this way until Mum went on maternity leave. She never returned to the office, as she became a busy stay-at-home mummy instead!

When we moved to Canada, Mum became an Avon lady. She walked for miles, carrying her Avon suitcase, making friends out of all her clients. To Mum, a stranger was just a friend she hadn't met yet.

Then Mum got a part-time job in a gift shop named "The China Clipper". This was another great way for Mum to make more friends.

Mum volunteered for the Canadian Cancer Society, collecting donations by even more walking around Malton. Because Mum never wanted to drive, she never did learn. Walking everywhere kept her fit. Of course, Dad drove her anywhere she couldn't walk to on her own.

Mum also worked part-time on the polls at election time. Another chance to meet and greet new people!

Next, Mum was hired part-time by Reitman's. She was their saleswoman extraordinaire, with a great eye for colour, and talent for coordinating chic ensembles including jewellery, custom designed for the shopper.

We attended St. Mark's Presbyterian church in Malton. There Mum joined the choir, and also taught Sunday school. True to form, Mum gathered more friends along the way.

Mum was an excellent cook. Her meals were tasty, healthy and generously portioned. She cooked Indian curries and sweets like a natural, having been taught by our Granny (Dad's mum), who learned her culinary skills growing up in India. Mum's interest in different cultures meant that she introduced us to foods from around the world. Mealtimes at home were never boring.

Mum and Dad were thrilled when their grandchildren came along. They were so proud of each one! They always ensured that the children had fun, whether it was camping for a weekend, sharing a cottage holiday, or just one of Mum's wonderful picnics in a park. Some of the grandchildren's favourite memories include spending the day searching for fossils in the Humber River, or hunting for toy dinosaurs hidden amongst the trees by Mum and Dad in Brampton's Chingacousy Park, and of course, the annual Easter Egg hunt in their house.

Once great-grandchildren began to enter the picture, Mum and Dad were very comfortable in their roles as matriarch and patriarch of the family. The more, the merrier! As soon as a new baby arrived, they were feted and welcomed as a cherished family member. Family get-togethers were noisy, hectic, and memorable! Mum adored each precious child, with every atom of her being. You could feel the love radiating off her.

Mum and Dad spent countless hours tending their garden in Mississauga, turning it into a quintessential English country garden. When Mum moved to Cambridge, her balcony oasis soon became her pride and joy. Mum's plants were like her children. She celebrated each new leaf and petal. Mum's legendary green thumbs could coax the frailest seedling to full and healthy fruition.

Mum's move to her apt. signalled the start of a new phase in her life. It took her a while to acclimatize, but once she did, Mum had a wonderful time. She made many new friends, and enjoyed coffee mornings with them. Monday nights were Scrabble games night - and Mum played to win! - she loved the regular potluck dinners in her building, and happily participated in the exercise programs whenever she could.

Mum had a photo display on her living room wall. It was designed to imitate a tree, a family tree, with many framed photos of all the family. It gave her the feeling of having us near her, even when we couldn't be there. This was particularly important during these recent times of Covid, when the family couldn't be with Mum as often as we would have liked.

Mum loved words. She liked to read, but she especially loved to talk! She took great pleasure in connecting with her family and friends by way of conversation. Marathon conversations, to be precise! You could easily spend an hour or more on the 'phone with Mum. She could discuss almost any topic, with almost anyone. She kept up to date with current issues, but she was also very well informed about all manner of interesting subjects. Mum had a fine sense of humour, and laughter flowed through her conversations like bubbles in champagne. Mum was also a great listener. She lifted people's spirits, and her caring ways made everybody feel better about themselves.

Mum could be very down to earth and practical ... but she also loved to dress up beautifully and enjoy the finer things in life. She was graceful, elegant and a truly classy lady. When informed of Mum's passing, her cousin Ian said this (and other very nice things) about her, "Gwen was the only Royalty I knew .... "

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Gwendoline Rosemary Fisher was born in London, England, on April 15th, 1933, to loving parents Edwin and Florence Carrick. She was their only child. She is sadly missed by her children, Paul Fisher (Jenny Fong), Peter Fisher (Liz), Rosalind Fisher (Scott Beatty), and Trevor Fisher. Grandchildren Nicola Fisher, Kevin Fisher, Lauren Fisher-Beatty (Kevin Capobianco), Justin Fisher and Graeme Fisher, deeply miss their Nanny. Great-grandchildren Monet Fisher, Matisse Fisher, Claire Capobianco, Nathan Lower, and Adelyn Lower miss their Nanna very much.

Predeceased by her devoted husband, Edward Thomas Fisher, and her darling grandsons Christopher Fisher-Beatty and Colin Fisher.

Mum was a vivacious lady. She had the knack of putting people at ease and making them feel good about themselves. Her family and friends will all miss her greatly, as she never failed to put a smile on everyone's faces. Known for her "green thumbs" and amazing gardening skills, Mum cared for flowers and plants with the same attention to detail and dedication that she afforded to everyone she loved. People and plants all thrived in her sphere, and she thrived in return, being a part of it all.

Mum had health issues in her later years, but never complained. She kept a positive outlook going at all times, and shared that with others. Mum passed away peacefully in her sleep, after having had a lovely day.

As per Mum's wishes, she was cremated.

We thank the doctors, nurses, and personal care workers who served Mum so faithfully. They helped make Mum's wish come true, to die peacefully, in her own home.