Our beloved Mum and Nana died peacefully on September 16, 2024, having endured the unrelenting assault of ALS for three years. With her husband Scott who was her life partner and best friend for 53 years, children Andrew (Ashley), Heather (Malcolm Nobbs), and Ian (Greta) all by her side, she was blessed with an abundance of love and support, every bit of which she deserved as the anchor and inspiration for our family in so many ways.

Caryl’s love of England, inherited from her English mother, was a significant part of who she was. She found great joy in cooking proper family dinners, English antiques, and designing and maintaining her beautiful English-inspired gardens. The Mini Cooper was always her car of choice! She was quick to impart “life lessons” to her children and grandchildren, all of whom were obliged to listen! Our Nana had a lot to say and her opinion was always sought because it became clear over our lifetimes that she was in fact almost always right. Caryl was smart, curious, and an enthusiastic communicator. She had great instincts. She held the seat as family matriarch and was the centre of our universe, all of us captured in her orbit.

Her proudest legacy was her family including her 9 cherished grandchildren; Tate and Ollie Rutledge; Molly, Rowan (who sadly predeceased Caryl this year), Phoebe, and Tiggy Nobbs; and Freya, Una, and Gunnar Rutledge. She created a close-knit family that chooses to spend free time together, be it cottaging, family vacations, or a random Tuesday night. Indeed, her strong sense of family allowed her to bring together her extended family of cousins spread across 5 continents, re-establishing relationships that had been mostly dormant much too long.

As our family matriarch and the consummate teacher, she believed strongly in hard work and the importance of education. She took it upon herself to quietly pay the university tuition of hard-working new Canadians known to the family. She had an understated elegance and a talent for making gatherings of friends and family feel special. We are grateful for the world that Caryl created for us, and we take pride in knowing we shared our lives with someone who was thoughtful, generous, and always had a positive outlook. We are most proud of the life she lived.

A private family church service will be held on September 26th followed by a Celebration of Life from 2-5 pm for all to attend at Lambton Golf Club, Toronto. If so desired, donations can be made to “The Rowan Fund” (The Rowan Fund — Lights-TO) which supports independent living for people with intellectual disabilities.