Passed away at home December 28th, 2017 in her 90th year. Beloved wife of John William Atkinson (1918 – 2002) and dear sister to Irene Pelletier (1918 – 1999) and Beatrice Ryan, all of Guelph.
Theresa will be dearly missed by her children, John (Wendy) of Commanda, Ontario; David (Ellen) of Guelph, Ontario; Marion (Rob) Moore of Ariss, Ontario; Dianne (Rod) Popowich of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dear grandmother to Katie (Jed), Bryan (Amy), Annie (Quentin), Jesse (Becky), Holly, Aaron (Julie), Alex (Jenna), Adam and Nic (Brittany). Great grandmother to Walter, Archie, Henry, Johnny, Oliver, Carl, Ashton, Sadie and Akira.
Theresa was born in Guelph on October 10th, 1928, the youngest daughter of Arthur and Amanda Melancon. She grew up in Guelph, attending St. Agnes School and Loretto Academy. She started her working career sewing fur coats at LaFontaine's Furriers in downtown Guelph. She was a long time employee of Zehrs Markets retiring in the mid-1980s from the Woodlawn Road store (now closed). Always a “crafty” person, Theresa loved to put her hand to many things, from ceramics, to painting, to sewing – anything creative. Whatever she never managed to work on she still had planned to “take up”. She had a strong spirit, never believing herself to age. In her mind she was perpetually in her youth. Theresa loved family and family gatherings, chocolate and sweets, a man in uniform (especially Johnny, her husband) and her numerous pets she babied over the years. She will be sadly missed by all who had the honour of knowing her.
A memorial service and interment ceremony will be held at Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel and Woodlawn Cemetery in or around April 2018.
Memorial contributions to the Canadian Diabetes Association would be appreciated.