James “Jim” Alfred Stenton

It is with broken hearts that the family of James “Jim” Alfred Stenton announce his unexpected passing on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Bluewater Health, at the age of 78. To his daughter, Teanna Tracy Lennan, Jim was simply Dad. There are some relationships in life that cannot be put into words, and the bond between a father and daughter is one of them. His absence has left a place in her heart that no one else can fill. She will miss his voice, his stories, his sense of humour, and all the little things that made him her Dad. She will carry those memories with her for the rest of her life. Jim’s heart also carried the love and loss of his youngest daughter, Cynthia Lee. While her absence was a pain he carried with him, there is comfort in the hope that they are together again. Jim was a proud and much-loved Papa to Tristen Skylar James Lennan and Seth Caleb Lennan. Being their Papa was one of the greatest joys of his life. He took pride in the young men they were becoming and loved having them in his life. The memories they made together—the conversations, the laughter, the time spent together, and simply being their Papa—will remain with them always. One day, they will tell their own children about their Papa. They will tell them about the man he was, the things he said, the things he did, and the stories that only Papa could tell. In that way, a part of Jim will continue to live on. Jim was the second-born of four boys and was the cherished brother of Robert Stenton and William “Wild Bill over the Hill” Stenton. He was predeceased by his parents, Howard and Catherine Stenton, and his brother, Gary Stenton. Jim was a farmer, and that part of him never really left. He understood that the land could be demanding that nothing worth having came without work, and that you had to keep going through the good seasons and the hard ones. Jim worked at the Suncor Sarnia site, where he retired as a Shift Supervisor after years of dedication and hard work. Jim was a man with a strong personality, a good sense of humour, and a way of doing things that was uniquely his own. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, and he certainly wasn’t afraid to make people laugh. He could be stubborn, independent, funny, hardworking, and never once in swerved away from walking the line. Those who knew Jim will each have their own story about him. Some will remember his laughter. Some will remember his stories. Some will remember his teasing or his stubborn streak. Others will remember a helping hand, a conversation, or simply having him there. And that is the thing about Jim—he wasn’t meant to be forgotten. Love doesn’t end when someone dies. It stays in the stories we tell. It lives in the memories we hold onto. It is carried forward by the children and grandchildren he loved. And it remains quietly in our hearts, long after the person we love is gone. Dad, you were not perfect, and neither was life. But you were ours. You were our Dad. You were Papa. You were a brother, a farmer, a worker, and a friend. And you will always be a part of us. Every time the phone rings, I listen for your name.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Jim’s life will take place at Smith Funeral Home, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation happening the hour prior from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A burial of ashes will take place following the service in Hillsdale Cemetery, Petrolia. Sympathy may be expressed through donations to SickKids Hospital (cheques only at the funeral home, please).

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