Isabel Caroline Mannion

It is with great sadness and love that we announce the passing of Isabel Caroline Mannion, at the age of 91. Isabel was a mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, in addition to being a friend to many. Isabel grew up in humble circumstances in Snelgrove, Ontario, farming country in what is now Brampton. She attended a one-room school house, skipped grades and was determined to leave poverty behind. She became a nurse in Toronto, married Jim Milton, had two children, Stephen and Diane, then moved to Montreal where she raised a family and kept her career alive. The first feminist on the block in 1970s suburban Montreal, she climbed the ranks within local hospitals and went back to school, receiving a Master’s degree in Nursing. In the late ‘70s, she returned to Toronto, taught at the University of Toronto, then went back into hospitals to become a hospital administrator at several hospitals, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospitals ( now Toronto Rehab), the Mississauga Hospital ( now Trillium) and the Toronto Grace Hospital where she was the VP of Patient services. After a painful divorce, she continued to work, then met Edward Mannion, a gift from heaven, who she married in 2005. They enjoyed many good years until his death. Even after retirement she maintained an interest in the health care of seniors. In the past two years she served as an advisor to a committee advocating for more health supports so seniors could age in place in their own homes.

Isabel was always fiercely independent, living at home until her final hospitalization. She read several newspapers a day, and revelled in talking about politics and sports. She was an active participant in her church online, and loved keeping up with her grandchildren. She is survived by her children Diane Chernish and Stephen Milton, her daughter-in-law Amanda McFarlan, her grandchildren and step grandchildren, her two sisters, Muriel Taylor and Ruth Walton, and her nieces and nephews. She died soon after suffering a stroke in late October. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends and former colleagues. May she rest in peace, now free to read as many newspapers a day as she likes. A funeral will be held at Lawrence Park Community Church in Toronto, 2180 Bayview Avenue, on December 4th at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow at the church.

Donations may be made to the Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre and to Parkinson Canada.