SVENNINGSON, Daphne Rose Svenningson

Passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026. Daphne outlived all her siblings, having been predeceased by her eldest brother, George Canning, her older sister, Valerie Sutcliffe, and her adored younger brother, Victor Canning. Daphne’s husband, Wayne Bancroft Svenningson, had also predeceased her by more than 25 years.

The family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff at Extendicare Port Hope for providing extraordinary care and support to Daphne. Their compassion and attentiveness made a significant difference during her time there. In particular, Celia McBride, a family friend who had been close to Daphne, offered her immense comfort at the end.

Daphne was the third child of the Right Honourable Lord and Lady Garvagh, and was brought up at Ashby Hall in Lincolnshire, England, by a strict governess before being sent off to a boarding school first in Sussex, then over to Tolmers Park, Hertfordshire, where she eventually became Headgirl and graduated in 1939. At 19, Daphne joined the war effort in 1941, as a member of the WAAF(Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) a subsidiary of the British Royal Air Force. The war had a huge impact on how she would live her life going forward. After the war, Daphne chose to move to Toronto in 1947, where she met and married(1950) her husband of 48 years, Ban Svenningson.

Daphne is survived by her loving children, her son Victor, his wife Lydia, and her granddaughter Jessica; her daughter Jennifer Leavitt, her husband John, her grandsons, Andrew, Graeme and Alexander, his wife Lindsey, and her great grandchildren, Leo and Mallory; and her daughter, Andrea Svenningson, and her granddaughters, Emma and Madeleine.

Daphne always loved sports cars and often told us how she used to race cars and sold the most at the Austin Motor Company. She also loved books and shared that love by volunteering as a reader at the CNIB weekly and helping the Red Cross organize blood clinics. As well, she was a huge supporter of emerging Canadian artists in the 1970s and in the early 80s, ensuring they were well represented and often treasured many of their first works. Daphne proudly collected Inuit art on behalf of the Latner Family of Toronto,well before the value was recognized. After Ban worked for more than 30 years for Sears Canada, both Ban and Daphne gladly retired to the Port Hope area in the 1980s. Here, Daphne was a dedicated patron, where she spent time on the Board of the Capitol Theatre and the Port Hope Garden Tour, as well as the ACO House Tour.

Daphne became well-known as an accomplished amateur photographer, winning many awards over the years. She deftly combined her love of travel with her joy of photography by creating a rich set of travel lectures that she delivered to many clubs throughout Ontario, and beyond.

Daphne truly loved a party and genuinely was interested in all those who attended. She celebrated her 90th birthday at the Capitol Theatre with well over 100 people in attendance. She was a force to be reckoned with, along with an inexhaustible supply of energy.

As our Mum, she will be remembered as someone who always loved us, supported us in our decisions, and always encouraged us to try new experiences.

Aquamation has taken place, and a celebration of life has been planned for the afternoon of Friday, May 29th, at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Capitol Theatre are much welcomed in her name and would be greatly appreciated.