Lenore Wilkinson

LENORE DELLA BRYAN (ELLIOTT) WILKINSON

July 25,1930  -  December 31, 2022

Passed away peacefully  on December 31, 2022 at Andy’s House Hospice in Port Carling surrounded by family. Lenore was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Robert H. Wilkinson.  Loving mother of Dianne Davidson (Steve), Paul Wilkinson, Sandra Carter, late Wendi Westerby (Harry) and Ross Wilkinson (Cathie).  Cherished “Nana” of Melissa (Abel), Lindsay (Simon), Rob, Geoff (Tori), Lucy (Tyler), Evan, Graydon, Ryan, Katie (Mike) and Grace.  Cherished  “great Nana”  to six!

Lenore lived a very rich life full of love and adventure.  Faith, family and friends were always her priorities.    She was raised in the Baby Point area of Toronto, attended Humberside Collegiate and graduated from U of T in 1952 with her degree in Physical Education/Health.  She taught high school in Etobicoke and helped husband, Bob,  complete his years at U of T in medicine.

She was an accomplished athlete especially enjoying volleyball, basketball and badminton.  She also enjoyed many years of tennis at the Muskoka Lakes Golf and Country Club.   She honed her waterskiing skills on skiis built by her father while summering at Bayview Wildwood Resort on Sparrow Lake.  She excelled, and  participated in the Grandstand Water Show at the CNE.  Something she adored as her father was one of the founders of that event.

Lenore and Bob travelled the world extensively by plane, train and sea,  including taking their young family of 4 to London, England in 1963 aboard the Empress of Canada so Bob could further his surgical studies.   Her favourite places, though, were Muskoka,  Mansfield and the Cove Cay community in Clearwater, FLA.

She played a brilliant game of bridge and cherished the many bridge clubs she belonged to, some for decades.  She taught and introduced many new players to the game.

For her whole life, Lenore was an active member of the United Church, and her faith carried her through many of life’s challenges.

Always smiling, always optimistic, her legacy is BIG …….  “never quit …  there’s always hope, so go for it”.  She will be terribly missed, but forever in our hearts.

A celebration of Lenore’s life will be held in the Spring.  Memorial donations may be made to Bala United Church,  Box #313, BALA, ON  P0C 1A0.