Annabelle Garrow

It is with great sadness that we share that Annabelle passed away peacefully on July 24, 2023, at Collingwood General & Marine Hospital, with her family by her side. Her spirit will be carried on by her husband of 60+ years, John, their three children John (Bobbi), Jennifer (Mike) and Heather (Chris) and their cherished grandchildren - “Gramma Annabelle” to Thompson, Turner and Devynn and “Gaga” to Wyatt, Sophie, Ben and bonus grandkids Josh and Jordan. Life will not be the same without her and we will all miss her deeply.

Annabelle was born on August 25, 1939, in Toronto to Don and Isabel McIntosh. After graduating high school she did a brief stint at the University of Toronto’s Nursing School before moving to Kirkfield, Ontario with John and their young family. Subsequently they settled in Brampton, Ontario, and it was there they raised their family. John retired in 1994 and, in 1996, he and Annabelle moved to Gravenhurst, Ontario, where they remained.

The simple things in life brought great joy to Annabelle. She dearly loved her family (canines included), a good book, time in her garden, playing Bridge and summers at the cottage on Penlake (all but the bugs – she hated those). In addition to being a loved and loyal friend, Annabelle was a talented rug-hooker, craft-maker and an invaluable volunteer for many years at Brampton’s Perpetual Bazaar, Tullamore Nursing Home and the public schools her children attended. She was a knowledgeable and avid sports fan (the Leafs, the Blue Jays and the Raptors), a card shark who believed in fair play and never let a grandchild win for the sake of winning, loved a perfectly toasted marshmallow and was a diehard royal family follower who never missed watching a funeral or wedding even if it meant a 3:30am wake-up.

We lovingly and laughingly remember Mom for our Penlake family summers, her Christmas baking (nuts and bolts and “sealies”) and our Christmas morning routine; always being at
home for us growing up (lunch-time, after school); our girls-only day-trips and special birthday trips; our family vacations; Saturday night steak dinners; her skill for predicting the
weather (but just the bad weather); her pants pockets filled with dog treats for her beloved grand-dogs; her need to have back-ups to her back-ups; her respected role as fire-marshal of Glen Chattan; the “powdered donut” incident and the occasional innocent, yet slightly politically incorrect, comment - but mostly we will remember Mom for her warm heart, her goodnight kisses, her kindness and her strong sense of family.

Annabelle is remembered with love by her surviving siblings and their families, John McIntosh and Sandy McIntosh, by her in-laws Connie Curry, Jim Garrow and Charlie Garrow and their families, and by her dear friends and cherished neighbours.

Annabelle’s wish was to be cremated. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. If desired, donations in remembrance of Annabelle can be made to the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, to Princess Margaret Hospital’s Oropharyngeal Research or to a charity of your choice.

Godspeed - say hello to the Queen for us.