A long-time resident of Barrie, Gwen Scott passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at the Alexandra and Marine Hospital in Goderich, Ontario, in her 87th year. She had enjoyed good health and good care at Goderich Place Retirement Residence for over a year, right up until her passing. Known for her quick wit, her sense of the ridiculous and love of laughter, she is now mourned and missed by her dear friends.
Gwen arrived in Barrie in October of 1945 with her parents, Peter M. and Dora Scott, and sister, Patricia. When Dad took her to be enrolled at Victoria, the nearest school, they were redirected to Prince of Wales. Dad, the newly-appointed school inspector had erred! How chagrined she was to be late and to be greeted by a sea of unfamiliar faces, all sizing her up, in her new grade six classroom.
That was not Gwen’s only mortifying experience there. When she was in grade eight, she slipped on ice near the school and broke her leg. Bill Bell, the principal, carried her into the school and called an ambulance. The vehicle that was dispatched was not an ambulance, but a hearse! Fast forward to 2019 when she broke her hip and needed an ambulance. “This is better than a hearse!” she quipped.
It is a fact that in her adult life she was never sick, except for a few colds. It is amazing that she virtually never missed a day of teaching or work, ever.
Gwen played French horn in the Barrie Collegiate Band, was a proficient pianist and singer and took her love of music to the students in her grade four classes at MacKillop Public School in Richmond Hill. She, and one of her former pupils were delighted to be reunited in 2013 during a political campaign event. That pupil was the premier, Kathleen Wynne.
Gwen was known at Sears, in her next career, as the textiles clerk who could help with your sewing, knitting, crochet or cross-stitch questions. She produced a great variety of such projects of her own: sweaters; tablecloths; cross-stitch pieces.
In 2018, Gwen received a Volunteer Service Award for her 35 years of work with Simcoe County Arts and Crafts Association. She created clever photo albums with pictures she took on her Barrie Field Naturalists hikes. She titled one, with her subtle humour, “Barrie Rocks”. She was a volunteer with the Barrie Concert Society and Colours of Music, and loved the music of Dvorak so much that his “Going Home” theme is inscribed on the headstone that she designed many years ago.
When Trinity Anglican Church celebrated 185 years in 2020, Gwen was the parishioner of longest standing. A faithful choir member, she is pictured with other choir ladies on the cover of the video that was produced for the anniversary. Her story is told in the video. At Trinity, she was surrounded by “family” who gave her their loving support during Covid times when she became isolated.
Gwen loved her friends from teaching, from Sears, from Drury Lane, from Barrie market, from Saturday lunches at Arabesque, from Soroptimists, and from wherever she found a kindred spirit. Their affection for her was deeply-felt.
She leaves to mourn in Edmonton, her sister, Pat (Huck)Tibbles; cherished nephews, John Huck and Ted (Joanna) Huck. She leaves “down home” in Huron County, her devoted cousin and strong rock, Linda Campbell; her Scott cousins; and elsewhere, her Lee cousins.
Interment will take place in Brandon Cemetery, Belgrave, Ontario, at a future date.
At this time of pandemic, a service of remembrance for Gwen at Trinity Anglican Church in Barrie is uncertain.
As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to
Trinity Anglican Church by visiting www.trinitybarrie.ca OR may be made to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been made with: McBurney Funeral Home, 35 Patrick Street, Wingham, ON N0G 2W0 and online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com