Beverly Ann Izzillo-Ustation

IZZILLO-USTATION, Beverly Ann-- After a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer, Bev passed away, peacefully, at the Guelph General Hospital, on Sunday, February 28, 2010, in her 74th year. She was the beloved wife of John Ustation; mother of Lynda Lee French and Chris Ferguson; daughter of the late George and Irene (nee Moseley) Brydges; and step-mother of Lynne Wright and Laurie Ustation. Bev is survived by four grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Affectionately known as "Pushy," Bev was a strong advocate for "Persons United for Self Help”(PUSH), an organization that focussed on the needs of those with visual and hidden disabilities. She was always striving to make all public places, like City Hall, municipal buses, railway coaches, and aircraft, accessible to everyone. During this time period, she was able to introduce curb cuts on sidewalks, automatic doors and building ramps. Bev also pressed for an elevator at the inside entrance to the former Eaton's Centre and old City Hall. She was very progressive, often stating that the disabled were "handi-capable, not handicapped." Bev's main focus in life was her political work, giving her opposition "a good, clean, challenging run" for the Guelph mayoral position. During her political endeavours, she met Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Jean Chretien, John Crosby, and former Premier Bill Davis. John Crosby, then Minister of Finance, personally gave Bev a cheque for $ 5 M to sustain PUSH nationally, for twelve years. She always maintained that "to get anything done, start at the top and let it trickle down." When she lost touch with her own family, instead of focussing on the loss, she made a new family with Bernice Feren and Catherine Payne. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. The family would like to publicly acknowledge Dr. John Hobson, who with his skill, gave Bev ten years of quality life, to Dr. David Clare, Juravinski Cancer Centre, who ran out of magic bullets for Bev, to the wonderful women at the GGH's oncology unit, to Drs. Chung and Brodowski at the GGH's emergency department, to Dr. Lucille Chan, to the wonderful fourth floor staff who made Bev comfortable to the end. Special thanks to Dr. Peter Spadafora and to Kim Rovers. We will not forget the succor given us since 20 January 2010: Charlene Schell, of the Community Care Access Centre, and its contractors, "Paramed", Bayshore Home Health and Dynamic Therapy Solutions, Inc. We are so fortunate to have the Waterloo-Wellington CCAC who made Bev comfortable, daily. The Waterloo-Wellington Local Health/Integration Network (WWLHIN) MUST continue to fully fund the CCAC and its care-givers. Friends are invited to meet with the family at the Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, Dublin Chapel, 252 Dublin St. N., Guelph on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. A Funeral Service will follow in the chapel at 1:30 p.m. Interment, Woodlawn Memorial Park, Guelph. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Marianne's Place and to the Salvation Army, would be amazing (cards available at the funeral home, 519-822-4731, or send condolences to www. gilbertmacintyreandson.com ).

Friends are invited to meet with the family at the Dublin Chapel on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. A Funeral Service will follow in the chapel at 1:30 p.m.