Feb. 9, 1940 –June 28, 2017
The family of Edna Joyce Gunn is saddened to announce that she passed away peacefully on June 28, 2017 with her husband and children at her side,
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Jerry, her son Arthur(Rhonda) of Northbrook, IL, her daughter Dr. Annilea Gunn (Carol) of Tampa, FL, her granddaughter Melanie (Anthony) and grandson Eric, both of St. Louis, MO. She was the daughter of Abe and Bessie Silverman of Winnipeg, both of whom predeceased her. Edna was a graduate of St. Johns High School, the University of Manitoba and in the first graduating class of the University of Winnipeg. She taught in the
Winnipeg School District until the birth of her children, and in later years taught as a volunteer at the St. Amant Centre until illness caused her to stop. She was a proud supporter of her husband in the Masonic Fraternity and was an active member of The Daughters of The Nile and the Khartum Ladies Auxiliary until
her death.
She was known as Mom to her daughter’s friends in Florida, when she visited yearly. She was called Hurricane Edna as she stormed into Tampa and became the centre piece of the activities during her stay. She adored her grandpup Natasha, who stuck by her side whenever she saw her. During her visits to Arthur and Rhonda in Northbrook, their pup Jackson as well became attached to her. She loved spending Passover with Arthur and Rhonda and was welcomed at Rhonda’s family seders. She commented oseveral times how much she enjoyed the seders and how they brought her back to her youth.
Children and dogs went to her without hesitation; it was an mutual love affair at first sight. She was Baba to her beloved grandchildren and doted on them as only a Jewish Baba could. Her love was reciprocated by them in many ways.
Edna loved to travel and travelled throughout Canada and the States with her husband or by herself when she visited the children during the winter months to get away from the cold. She was a supporter of numerous charities and donated generously to support them. Her biggest disappointment was that she could not donate her time as she once did, due to her debilitating illness.
Her love and devotion to her parents, her husband, children and grandchildren and family generally was unconditional and was evident throughout her life. As her life came to an end, the love and devotion of her family and friends to her was visibly apparent. She indeed was a wife, mother and grandmother of excellence and will be remembered as such.
Funeral services were held at the Chesed Shel Emes Chapel with internment in the Shaarey Zedek Cemettery. The family is grateful to and thanks Rabbi Yosef Benarrroch of Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun for attending to our beloved Edna in her final moments and in conducting her funeral service.
