Obituary of Nancy LaVerne McDonald

Nancy LaVerne McDonald passed away on May 23, 2024, at Markham-Stouffville Hospital, at the age of 80. Her family is grateful for the care she received from the hospital staff in her final days and is pleased that she is resting in peace.

Nancy was fortunate to enter the world as the beloved baby sibling to three doting sisters: Bernice, Juanita, and Yvonne. The Woodcock family lived in tiny Kinmount, Ontario, but soon relocated to lively Lindsay, where Nancy grew up and first met her future husband, Ernie. After high school, Nancy headed to teacher's college, where she made lifelong friends and took the first steps toward achieving her childhood dream job as a primary school teacher. Nancy and Ernie married in 1971 and moved to Markham, where they welcomed Charles, then Heather, and lived for many happy decades. Each summer brought precious time at the family cottage at Balsam Lake; each fall brought a new school year with all its associated adventures and challenges.

Retirement did not slow Nancy down one bit. She used her extra time to travel, including to a castle in Belfast where Michael joined the family, and to celebrate with circles of good friends. No occasion was too small for a party. In 2021, she welcomed family to the lake to honour 50 fabulous years of marriage to her devoted husband, Ernie. And just this spring, she gathered again with family to mark her milestone 80th birthday.

Nancy was a lifelong learner. She will be remembered as decisive and self-assured, generous and enthusiastic, bright and curious, and highly social; and she will be deeply missed. Donations made in memory of Nancy to the York South Association for Community Living would be warmly appreciated.