THOMSON, Willa Evelyn (nee McCauley)

Willa Evelyn Thomson (nee McCauley)

Born October 11, 1933 at Port Credit Ontario. Died October 28, 2022 at Fergus Ontario.
Willa Thomson died peacefully in her sleep very early on the morning of October 28, 2022. Willa was predeceased by her husband of almost 68 years, William D’Arcy Thomson, in July of this year. She is survived by her sons Andrew (Charmian Christie), Ian (Connie Moore), her daughter Nancy Smith, her grandson Cameron Smith and her granddaughter Rebecca Smith. She will be missed by her niece Heather Anderson (Bruce), Alison MacIntosh (Frank), nephew Duncan MacIntosh and great-niece Hillary Anderson.

Willa was born in what was then the countryside on the edge of Port Credit, Ontario in 1933. She and her older sister, Helen, were raised by her parents John McCauley and Gladys McCauley (nee Innis) on the family’s farm. Willa attended Port Credit High School and in 1951 represented her school in the Simpson’s Collegiate Club public speaking event. Willa emerged from the field of 160 participants to win a trip to New York City to visit the United Nations and debate with students from New York.

After high school, Willa attended the Parkdale Toronto location of Shaw Business Schools. Here she learned bookkeeping and secretarial skills achieving high marks. Her success at Shaw led to work in Toronto, which entailed a daily trip on the commuter train from Port Credit. It was on one of these trips that she met Bill Thomson. In September of 1954 the couple were married and moved into a house built for them on Willa Road, a road named after Willa in the subdivision that was being built on her family’s former farm.

The arrival of oldest son Andy in 1957 meant that Willa stayed home to raise a family that grew with the addition of Ian in 1960 and Nancy in 1965. Bill’s work took the family first to Etobicoke and then to rural Nassagaweya in Halton. As the children got older Willa returned to the workforce as the secretary for the Works Department in Nassagaweya and later the same role for the town of Milton. Family concerns once again interrupted Willa’s work life as she became the caregiver for several elderly relatives. Her final career stop was as a secretary for Foseco in Guelph in the 1980s.

In retirement, Willa and Bill moved to Bath, Ontario. From there they traveled to Europe, Africa and across North America. While at home, Willa was active in charities such the St. George’s Cathedral lunch program in Kingston and the MS Society. More recently she and Bill had moved to Guelph, enjoying several pleasant years at the Riverside Residences on the Park before the onset of Alzheimer’s led Willa to Wellington Terrace Long Term Care in Fergus. The family would like to thank the amazing staff at the Walnut Grove neighbourhood there for making Willa’s final years as comfortable as possible.
Those who knew Willa best will miss her sparkling blue eyes, quick smile and wonderful sense of humour. Alzheimer’s took much from her, but not these things.

Arrangements entrusted to Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home – Hart Chapel, Guelph, ON. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society of Waterloo-Wellington.