FLETCHER, Hilda

With heavy hearts, we announce that Hilda Fletcher passed away peacefully at Guelph General Hospital on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. She is predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Leonard (March 2021), and survived by her children Greg (Sonja Salmon), Mitalene (Clark Warner) and George (Kim Kehler), grandchildren Marcus, James, Layla, and Charlotte. Survived by her brother James (Barbara Taylor) and sister Wilma Skeete, and beloved nieces, nephews, and extended family in Canada, the United States, and Barbados. Predeceased by her parents, Mitalena and George E. Taylor, and brother Gilbert Taylor.

Born in St. James, Barbados, Hilda distinguished herself as a pianist and home economics practitioner early on. She graduated from St. Michael’s Girls’ School in 1950 and began teaching home economics courses at the Housecraft Center in Saint Michael. In 1955 she relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts to care for her aunt. From there she moved to New York City, became a licensed dietitian, and reunited with relatives from Barbados. She worked at Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital in Manhattan until she married Leonard Fletcher in 1965. They relocated later that year to Kitchener, Ontario, where Leonard began his academic career at the University of Waterloo.

Hilda quickly applied herself to nurturing talent, serving her community, and generating beauty through music and visual arts. She taught piano students privately for three decades, sending many to compete successfully in the local Kiwanis Music Festival. She performed with the K-W Philharmonic Choir for many years and was a member of the Sanctuary Choir of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for 40 years. Hilda was co-founder of the K-W Caribbean-Canadian Cultural Association, which served to celebrate Caribbean culture and offered fellowship for Caribbean immigrants in the region. For more than 25 years, Hilda volunteered her services as a piano accompanist for the seniors’ sing-along in the Sunnyside Nursing Home.

She was an enthusiastic patron of the arts, enjoying the K-W Symphony orchestra as well as traveling to Toronto and Stratford for musicals and plays. Hilda’s talents enhanced indoor and outdoor environments both. She produced exquisite needlepoint pieces and was an avid gardener. She belonged to The Garden Club and the Probus Club of Kitchener Waterloo, and she served as an Elder of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church until she and Leonard relocated to the Village at the Arboretum in Guelph. Once there, she made haste, of course, to join the Village Singers.

Above all, Hilda was a devoted wife and mother.

Recently Hilda was assisted in her home by a loving team comprising family, friends, and Personal Support Workers (PSWs). We are grateful to have had so much support, particularly through the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. We especially thank the PSWs from ParaMed Home Health Care and Golden Life Home Services.

Hilda passed away days before her 90th birthday, and her family and friends look forward to celebrating her 90 years spent spreading harmony and beautifying our community.

As expressions of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer Society of Canada.

Resting at Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, the Funeral Service will take place at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 54 Queen St. N., Kitchener on Wednesday, January 19th at 12:00pm, followed by an interment at Parkview Cemetery Waterloo. Guests may arrive at 11:15am to pay respects before the service begins. All are welcome to live stream the service on the internet via ZOOM. Link can be found on her memorial page at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com. Due to COVID restrictions, guests must RSVP their attendance using the link below her obituary on the funeral home website.