Obituary of Sally Elizabeth Smith

Sally Elizabeth Smith (nee Powell) August 1945 – Feb 18, 2018

Sally Powell was borne in Rochford in the United Kingdom but came to Canada with her parents William and Hilda and her older sister Hilary when she was only 2 years of age. She grew up on Swanston Avenue in Peterborough and maintained her kindergarten and childhood friends throughout her life. Following graduation from PCVS (Peterborough) Sally went into Nursing Training at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, graduating with her RN in 1966. Back to Peterborough for a brief stint in the local hospital and then Sally and fellow Sick Kids graduate Ginny McGill (Root back then) decided to explore Europe which they did for six months on just $3.00 a day!
By 1967 Sally was back in Toronto and joined the Victorian Order of Nurses with a home visiting area in East Toronto along the Danforth. Sally found her husband-to-be during that year and after a whirlwind romance David and Sally were married downtown in St. James Cathedral in August 1968. In the summer of 1969 they moved to Vancouver. They remained married, in love and best friends for the next 50 years, producing two children along the way, Andrew in 1973 and Julie a scant 14 months later. The grass has never grown under the Smith family feet. They moved from Vancouver to Montreal in 1974, then to Unionville in the early 80s. Then to the UK in the late 80s and ultimately to Guernsey in the Channel Islands where David worked as a pilot for the local airline. After graduating from Keele and  Edinburgh University respectively, Andrew and Julie returned to Canada and Sally and David followed suite once David retired from commercial flying. For the past decade, the family has lived within walking distance of each other.
In addition to nursing, Sally worked with disadvantaged teens in Vancouver, volunteered as a teacher of illiterate adults in England, gained her Bachelor’s Degree in the History of Art from the University of Southampton, became a docent at the Varley Art Gallery on returning to Markham, and spent her life in building a strong and cohesive family unit which today includes 4 dearly loved grandchildren. Sally also made a serious hobby out of culinary artistry and kept the best table and threw splendid dinner parties that were legendary!
In December of 2016 Sally was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian cancer and for a brief while there was some doubt whether she would see 2017, but with the support of her many friends and the skill of numerous doctors at both Markham Stouffville Hospital and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre she gained another 14 months and achieved her final goal which was preparing and hosting family Christmas Dinner for a dozen family members just two months ago.
We will celebrate Sally’s life at Dixon-Garland Funeral Home on Saturday March 17th. Visitation will be between 1 and 2 pm. Then at 2 pm we shall celebrate her life in the Chapel, and that will be followed by a reception. David, Andrew and Julie and our families do hope that you will be able to come and be with us. If you wish to remember Sally with a donation, we suggest either Markham Stouffville Hospital or The Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.