Anna Margareta Skerrett

Greta was an extraordinary person. Everything she did, she did well and she did many things. She was a devoted daughter, a fun and helpful sister, an amazing wife and a strong, competent mother. The home she created with Garry was welcoming, warm, and busy. It brought people together, mostly Greta's children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, but many people shared its warmth and joy. Greta had a generous spirit and spread her love and care amongst extended family, friends, students, colleagues, pets, and gardens.

Greta was born in Humberstone, to Swedish parents. They were adventurous, and hard-working. Throughout her life Greta was close to her brothers Patrick and Martin and sisters Peggy and Martha. Greta and her siblings would eventually work together to care for their aging parents. Daily visits to their mother's farmhouse reflected generosity, kindness and cooperation. They also formed the foundation for close ties between their families.

In 1962, Greta married her high school sweetheart, Garry Skerrett. As students they attended prom together with Greta as prom queen, they were basketball team captains, and enthusiastic participants in leadership camp. Together they built a life that spanned more than six decades, raising three daughters, Martha, Lara and Rachel. Greta earned a degree in History from McMaster University and subsequently completed the qualifications for high school teaching. She taught briefly at Fort Erie Highschool where she made a life-long friend in Doris Mather and went on to teach Home Economics and Family Studies at Ridgeway Crystal Beach Highschool until she retired. Greta made learning fun, and her classroom was as welcoming as her home. Students loved to spend breaks there and Greta enjoyed hearing their stories. She was vested in student success and developed programs and activities such as the Annual Fashion Show, The Nutrition Club, The Environmental Club and the Co-Op Program.

Greta and Garry loved to explore, and they travelled throughout the world. Many trips overseas included family and friends such as Patrick, Amy & Stan and Peggy & Donald. They spent their honeymoon in Europe. Having a family did not stop them from travelling and Greta somehow made trips with children, pets and extended family look easy. In later years Garry and Greta opted for shorter trips to their cabin, day trips around the area and visits to the waterfront in Crystal Beach. Garry and Greta sat for hours, listening to music, watching the lake, enjoying one another's company.

While they had shared many adventures, the greatest adventure for Greta was watching her family grow. She loved her grandchildren Megan, Sam, Ryan, Anna, Maya, Magnus, Maren and Callum. Although she was unable to fully embrace the arrival of her great-grandchildren, Marshall, Matilda, Lilah and Anthony, they gave her a role she would have treasured.

Greta was particularly close to her sibling’s children. She spent summers on the beach with Chrissy and Kelly, travelled to Egypt with Kimmy and Kerry, taught Darren and Anne to swim at the cabin, and loved to see Nicole at Christmas.

The family gatherings remembered so fondly by children and grandchildren were one of the highlights of Greta's life. She had an amazing ability to organize and unite people, and her grandnieces and nephews were no exception. Christmas Eve involved dressing the children in costumes, boys as shepherds, girls in Santa Lucia dresses, with Swedish coffee- bread called vete-brod, delivered to guests.

Greta was skilled in many areas and enjoyed many activities. She loved reading and shared her love of books with her children and grandchildren. She painted, plastered, wall-papered, sewed, and restored furniture. She had a talent for gardening and transformed her home and property into a place of beauty. The flower beds, vegetable gardens, and pond reflected her hard work, patience and creativity, providing enjoyment not only for her family but for everyone who was fortunate enough to visit. She was a good writer; if you forgot how to spell a word, she always knew how. She could answer any and all questions about cooking and entertaining large groups. She made full course meals and still managed to dress in a perfect outfit and make everyone feel at home.

Over the past decade, Greta faced health challenges with courage and dignity. Garry remained at her side, and with help from family, and caregiver friends, they fulfilled their promise to stay in their own home as they aged. As her needs grew, and even as Garry was no longer there to guide her, Greta remained surrounded by extraordinary, devoted caregivers. The care and kindness provided by Valerie, Eileen, Sue, Nancy, Juliana, Brian, Derek, Diane, Gurveet and Dr. Che were an invaluable gift that she (and Garry) thoroughly deserved.

Greta accomplished much in her lifetime. As well as being the pillar of her family she was a brilliant student, an athlete, and a dedicated teacher. With a warm heart and hard work, she created a home and life that will shape generations to come.

Williams Funeral Services have been entrusted with arrangements. Greta’s family will receive friends for a visitation on Saturday July 25th from 10am-12pm.

If you wish to honor Greta, plant something and watch it grow. If you wish to feel close to her, find her in the flowers and trees.