It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Marie Jeannine Hetherington, (née Charland), beloved wife of John William Hetherington, on October 9th at Hillsdale Terraces (Oshawa) in her ninety-third year.
Jeannine Marie Hetherington was born on March 3rd 1934, and grew up with her parents and nine siblings on a dairy farm in Thornloe, Ontario. At 17 she moved to New Liskeard where she learned to speak English and began a career in retail at Stedmans. (She later worked at Robinson’s Ladies Wear, Walton’s Shoes and Eatons in Bramalea, London and Toronto.) It was there in New Liskeard – at a Saturday night dance – that she met John. He would become first her dance partner, then the love of her life and her husband of 69 years. (Later, they honed their dancing skills by taking ballroom dancing lessons and forever afterwards – even into their late 80s – glided gracefully and effortlessly across the dance floor.) They married in 1957 and embarked on a life together, first in New Liskeard, where their four children were born, later moving to Sault Ste Marie, Bramalea, London, and Newmarket. Upon retirement, they moved back to New Liskeard where they built a home on the shores of Lake Temiskaming and spent the next thirty years amongst family and lifelong friends.
John and Jeannine travelled the world together. They camped with their kids across northern Ontario and from one end of the country to the other. They skied in Western Canada and hiked in the American Southwest. They visited Africa where they camped in the National Parks, and travelled across Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, France and Germany.
Jeannine was charismatic, stylish and proud. She was always particularly interested in fashion and not only dressed stylishly, but learned to sew clothes for herself, her daughters, and granddaughters – even crafting elaborate wedding dresses. Her work ethic was unmatched and through her hard work she created a beautiful, elegant home and immaculate garden. Undaunted by any task, she re-covered couches, peeled logs for the cabin that John built on Twin Lakes, painted walls and stained decks, and cleaned everything to within an inch of its life. Her children and grandchildren fondly remember the desserts she made, and how she always made their favourite whenever they visited. Her fortitude was legendary and whether shopping or hanging wallpaper, she could outlast us all. She had incredibly high standards for her own work and was by turns, poised and elegant, funny and self-deprecating, engaging, fierce, exasperating in her unwavering certainty (even when wrong), and very competitive (especially when playing cards!) More than anything, she loved John, her family, friends, flowers, and any baby within reach!
She is survived by her husband John, her four children: Joanne (Mark), Diane, Suzanne (Dan), Ian (Diane); her grandchildren: Wyatt, Jack, John, Robert, Renée, Jake, Eva, Calla, and Marissa; her great grandchildren: Alden, Lowell, Fionn and Elaine; her sister Hélène and brothers Norman and Marcel; many nieces and nephews; and innumerable cousins. Jeannine is predeceased by her parents Irené and Aline, her sisters, Irène, Lucille, Emma, Yvonne, her brothers Fortunat and Julien, and her son-in-law, John.
A private interment will take place in New Liskeard.
