It is with sadness that we announce Lily’s death at her residence in Toronto. She was born on the family farm in Esquesing Township in Halton County, the eleventh of thirteen children. She was the beloved wife of Henry John (called John or Johnny) Duerkop for 51 years. She is survived by her children John Duerkop (Diana) of Kingston, Barbara Sheppard and Eileen Whitfield, both of Toronto; grandchildren Elizabeth Duerkop (Adam Theaker) of Calgary and Jonathan Robbins (Rachel Beattie) of Toronto; great-grandsons Charlie and Liam Theaker; siblings Dora Gover of Thorndale and Alan Whitfield of London; and many other relatives. She was predeceased by her husband in 1991; her parents Francis Peter Whitfield and Priscilla (Sheppard) Whitfield; her sisters Alicia Scott, Ivy and Lena Whitfield and Lydia Treanor; her brothers Alec, Eric, Henry, Howard, Ossie and Ralph Whitfield; and by her granddaughter Ellen Gundersen.
The Whitfield family later settled in London and Lily graduated from Beal Secondary School at age 15 (she had skipped two grades). She worked as a secretary in an insurance office and then married John in 1940 after he had enlisted in the RCNVR.
After their marriage, Lily and John lived in London, Toronto, Chicago, New York, Saskatoon, Detroit, Montreal and Tokyo before John retired from the National Film Board. After that they lived in Victoria, London and St. Catharines. Lily moved to Toronto in 2010. Altogether she lived in 29 different homes during her life.
Lily was on the board of the YWCA in Saskatoon, volunteered for many home and school associations, was on her condo board of directors in St. Catharines (including being president for many years), and gave her time to the Liberal Party and the Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund.
She was the heart of her family - optimistic, cheerful and friendly to all. Lily and John had a welcoming home, often filled with music. They ensured their children received university educations and supported them and their grandchildren in whatever path they chose to pursue.
Memorial service will be held at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne Street, (south of Wellesley Street), in Toronto on Friday September 19, 2014 at 1 p.m. Inurnment in Victoria Lawn Cemetery in St. Catharines at a later date.
Our grateful thanks to the staff at Kensington Gardens for making Lily’s last years so happy. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer Society of Ontario or to L’Arche Toronto would be appreciated.
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