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In her 95th year. True to the saying, 'life is too short, eat dessert first', Delia (after several weeks of barely eating solids) ate apple pie and died peacefully in her sleep shortly after. Predeceased by her parents Achille Gaudette and Hazel Gaudette (nee Parent). She was the beloved wife of the late John (Jack) Eaton Markle. Mother of Sylvia, Olive, Gary, Susan, Earl, Paul (deceased), Ruth, and Laurie and grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother to a plethora of children.

Born in Port McNichol, the oldest of 10 children, Delia eventually moved to Toronto to work as a nanny when she was 17. Later she joined the ranks of the “Bomb Girls” at Dominion Bridge, a Toronto factory that switched to munitions during the war. Delia was an inspector there when she met the charming Jack Markle. Although Jack was not all that articulate he managed to write an extraordinary love letter that won Delia’s heart and which sent her children into fits of laughter having found a copy when they were teenagers.

Delia’s faith had been one of the most important parts of who she was and it sustained her through some very difficult times. She was content and happy living at St. Joseph’s Long Term Care. Although she was living with dementia she somehow developed a sense of humour she hadn’t possessed before and made Sylvia laugh a lot while she cared for her mother over the last six years. The family would like to thank the PSW’s at St. Joseph’s who treated her with love, tenderness and respect.

Cremation has taken place and there will be a mass at the Basilica of Our Lady, 28 Norfolk St., Guelph, on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. There will be a reception in the common room at 85 Neeve St., Guelph. As expressions of sympathy, donations to St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation would be appreciated by the family. Donation cards are available at the funeral home (519-822-4731) or condolences may be left online at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com.



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