Eileen Teresa Dwyer Richard

EILEEN TERESA DWYER RICHARD Died peacefully on December 20, 2010, at the age of 86, with her beloved and adoring husband Larry by her side. Eileen will be greatly missed by a large extended family and many long-standing friends, who will never forget the warmth, insight, laughter and music she brought into their lives. Eileen is predeceased by her parents John and Mary (Durkin) Dwyer; sisters Julia (Allo) Lennon, Mary (Art) Pigeon, Katherine (Ken) McPherson and Bridget (Lawrence) Butler; and brothers Jack (Thekla), Hugh (Nell), Bill (Betty), Fr. Michael and Grattan (Catherine) Dwyer. She leaves sisters-in-law Catherine Dwyer of Leamington and Betty Dwyer of Stratford and brother-in-law Ken McPherson of Georgetown; numerous nieces and nephews; and a wide circle of friends who truly became family for her and Larry. Eileen will also be missed by Larry's family in the United States and France, with whom she had deep and affectionate ties. Eileen will also be fondly remembered by current and former members of the Sisters of Service, a religious community in which she was a valued member for 20 years; and by former staff and students at Bickford Collegiate in Toronto, where she taught in the English department for 17 years. She was blessed with many natural gifts -- most notably beauty, brains and a wonderful singing voice; to the end, she played the piano with gusto at social gatherings. She was also a strong individual who faced the tough challenges that came her way with dignity, resolve and a positive spirit. Visitation to celebrate her life will be held on Monday, December 27 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto (2 lights west of Yonge St.). A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 28 at 1 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 89 St. George St., Toronto (at Hoskin Ave.). There will be visitation in the church chapel before the mass beginning at 11:30 a.m. A reception will follow the Mass at the adjacent Newman Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice would be much appreciated. Special thanks to the ICU staff at Mount Sinai Hospital for their remarkable and affectionate care of Eileen.