Gwendolyn Lilah Kerr

Predeceased by her husband John R. Kerr to whom she was married for 56 years, her younger brother Ron Forde (Paula) of Toronto and her son Tom Kerr. Loving mother of Randy Kerr (Misty Watson), Tom Kerr (Debbie), Heather Kerr (Ken Talbot). She was a very proud and loving grandmother to Jaime, Jessie, John, David, Mark, Josh, Ryan and eight great grandchildren.

Gwen was born in Oshawa on November 9, 1925 to Cecil and Greta Forde. After her mother died, Gwen enjoyed a very close relationship with her step-mother, Maudie Forde. Gwen was the older sister to Ron Forde and half-sister to Gladys McFarland. Gwen formed many strong friendships growing up in Oshawa. She was part of the life long “Knitting Club”, a group of schoolgirls who knitted socks for the soldiers overseas during World War II and who continued to meet for over 70 years until 2015. Gwen met John Kerr when they both served on the Oshawa Ski Club Executive, and they married in Oshawa in 1951. In 1967, Gwen and John and their three children moved to Port Hope where John started his own business, John Kerr Insurance.

Gwen was a “stay at home mom” who was always there for her family. She spent every summer at the family’s cottage with her children so they could experience the magic of Lake Baptiste. Many great memories were made at The Lake. One of the best was Gwen protecting her family when she pushed a black bear back out through the bedroom window as it attempted to enter the cottage one night.

During her years in Port Hope, Gwen was very involved with the Port Hope United Church Woman’s Auxiliary, with quilting, bazaars and many church lunches. For many years she was Port Hope’s Welcome Wagon Hostess. Gwen volunteered at Port Hope Hospital and many of the long-term care homes in town. She trained and became one of the first volunteers in the Palliative Care Program at the Port Hope and Peterborough hospitals.

While always sensitive and deeply caring, Gwen was also determined and independent. Later in life she was determined to make decisions for herself, before others had to. She respected her limitations with courageous decisions to sell the family home and move into a retirement home. Gwen drove up until her 90th birthday. In 2009 Gwen moved into the Rosewood Estates Retirement Residence in Cobourg. In December 2019 she moved to her final residence at Stirling Heights Assisted Living in Cambridge to be closer to her daughter, Heather.

Gwen was a truly amazing woman: wife, mother, friend, grandmother and great grandmother! Thanks for being such a wonderful mother, Mom. You have left an imprint on us all that will be with us always.

We would like to thank all the staff at Stirling Heights Long Term Care Home for taking such good care of Mom. A very special thank you to Gerda for being Mom's friendly visitor.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring and announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, we would love you to remember Gwen with a donation to the Port Hope United Church.