In Celebration of
Susan Langley
November 21, 1944 -
January 8, 2023
A fierce champion of public education, women, the environment and her family.
Leaving an amazing legacy, Susan was a thoughtful yet forceful leader. She spent 17 years as a teacher, vice principal and principal inspiring both students and teachers at 9 schools, and another 17 years at the teacher federation and provincial levels of education. She was a thoughtful yet forceful leader of teacher federations (FWTAO and OTF) that advocated for, solidify and formalize the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, pay equity for women teachers, indexing the pension, and making it retroactive for retired teachers living in poverty at the time.
She was passionate about music, achieving her honours BA in music education with an associate degree in piano from UWO at the tender age of 21 years old. Susan went on to complete a Masters of Science in education.
Susan served as the chair or dedicated member of a plethora of boards, including Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), Ontario Curriculum Clearinghouse (OCC), The Ontario Teachers Federation (OTF), The Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF), Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (YPT),
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), Learning for A Sustainable Future (LSF) and more.
When it came to Susan’s personal life, she was the biggest champion and supporter of everyone in her family. She was so very proud of all of us, while deeply modest about her own accomplishments.
She was a passionate foodie, voracious reader, and a by-the-book Scrabble player who enjoyed a very good glass of wine and always loved to dance. She had a deep love for gardening, the Saturday crossword, board games, 1000-piece puzzles, competitive card games and tennis. Susan always made a point of leaving Laurent Saturday Presents, loved travelling, learning and appreciating other cultures. Susan’s happy place was with Laurent at Chalet Row Bear on Bob Lake, where they often hosted their blended family. She and Laurent created a hearth where unforgettable memories were created, good wine was consumed, mouth-watering meals offered, and familial strength instilled. This was the centre for hours upon hours of dedicated attention, sleepovers and fun for her grandchildren. Susan is remembered for her ever-present kindness, thoughtfulness, cheerleading and generosity that was offered to every single person she encountered.
Susan passed away Sunday January 8, 2023, in her 79th year at Princess Margaret Hospital in Palliative Care, surrounded by her loving soulmate and husband, Laurent
Joncas, and her children, Steph, son-in-law Todd and Howie (Allyson). Susan is also survived by her sister Elizabeth Langley Davidson (Ted) and stepsons Lee Joncas and Éric Joncas. She was also a dedicated and doting Nana to Bronwyn and Seamus Owens, Langley and Finn Mackie, as well as Théo, Cédric, Noah, Annabelle and Arianna Joncas; A loving Aunt to Sarah Davidson Garner (Luke), and great Aunt to Henry and Olympia Garner, cousin to Toni Myers (Michael, deceased) and son, Jackson (Kate and Lola).
A private family service was held January 14 at Turner Porter Funeral Homes. A Celebration of her remarkable life will follow this spring.
In recognition of Susan’s decades long commitment and dedication to Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF), donations to the Susan Langley Excellence in Sustainability Teaching Fund, are welcome, helping ensure Susan’s legacy as a dedicated change agent for children, teachers and the environment lives on. Susan also asked anyone willing and able to please donate blood! Without blood donors, Susan would have been lost to us much earlier.