Obituaries

THELMA Denise GUNTER –  was born in Gloucestershire England on June 1,1926. She spent her early years with her older twin brothers, enjoying walks on the Common with her father and developing a love for animals and natural beauty. During WWII, she travelled across southern England and Wales, working as a projectionist for ENSA.

At the end of the war, she met Bill through her brother Charles, who had been his close friend during their internment in Java. She and Bill were married in Stroud in 1946, where they made their home with their two daughters, until emigrating to Sarnia in 1957.

Most of Thelma’s working years were spent doing bookkeeping for several different law firms. She loved flowers, and spent many hours in the garden, nurturing roses, columbine, bleeding hearts and a variety of other perennials. She was an avid reader, and loved the beaches in Sarnia, where she spent most evenings and weekends with her family, during the summer.

After relocating to Victoria in July 2015, Thelma took pleasure in meals and outings with the family, and trips down to the wharf for Barb’s Fish and Chips, to Beacon Hill Animal Farm, Ogden Point, and  Butterfly World, where she was delighted to hold a parrot on her finger. She enjoyed playing couples bridge, and games of Scrabble with her friends and her granddaughter Emma Leigh.
Thelma kept the nursing staff at Royal Jubilee on their toes for the last weeks of her life (opening emergency exits, shooting rubber bands at staff and sneaking cookies, among other things), and thanks to their dedication and compassion, she and Bill were able to spend the last day of his life together. She left to join him two and a half days after his death, on February 2, 2016.
She will be remembered for her strength and tenacity, her love of Scottie dogs and her Mickey Mouse doodles which appeared on every available scrap of paper.

Thelma was predeceased by her twin brothers, Charles and Douglas.

Thelma and Bill were married for almost 70 years, and it’s no surprise that they left the world within days of one another. They are survived by their daughters, Stephanie and Sheridan, their grandchildren Emma Leigh, Ben, Sean, Sarah, and Katy, and their six great grandchildren.
Join us for a celebration of their lives, at 3:30pm, on Friday February12th at Minton House, 1070 Southgate St., (Cook Street Village) Victoria.

Donations to your favourite charity, a message on this page, or a walk in the park with your favourite dog, would be nice ways to remember them.