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Sunny Conacher Obituary

Sunny CONACHER

On March 6, 2017 at Hillcrest Village in Midland, Ontario, Sunny (nee Sophia Michas) left us to join her beloved husband, Charlie.

Sunny was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 11, 1921. She was the middle child of Christopher and Georgia Michas, recent arrivals to Canada from Greece. Sunny was predeceased by two older sisters, Maria and Aphrodite (DeeDee) of Vancouver and two younger brothers Constantine (Con) of Portland, OR and Ernie of North Vancouver.

Sunny graduated with a BA from the University of British Columbia in May, 1943 and moved to Montreal to assume a position with Sir George Williams University as a typing and office clerical skills instructor.

Her typing skills were prodigious and she was soon hired by the Underwood Typewriter Company to demonstrate its product at exhibitions and in offices across Canada. Sunny won numerous contests and awards across North America for typing speed and accuracy.

She was onstage in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition in 1947 when she caught the eye of Charlie Conacher. Charlie knew everyone and arranged an introduction to Miss Michas. Most also knew the name Charlie Conacher. But Sophia Michas did not. When informed of whom she was dating, her brothers were incredulous and quickly brought their non-sports oriented sister up to speed.

Charlie was coaching the Chicago Blackhawks at the time. By the time the 1948 season started, he phoned Sophia out west on the Underwood tour and told her "Come to Chicago. We're getting married."

In the off-season and after coaching, they lived at the Valley Farm in Pickering, Ontario where their two sons, Brad and Scott were born. In 1954, the family moved to Steeles Ave. in Willowdale. From there, Charlie owned and operated several businesses, notably the Conroy Hotel and Sunny was a homemaker.

The typewriter was not the only keyboard that attracted Sunny as she was an equally proficient pianist. Her practice sessions would fill the air at Steeles Ave.

Charlie passed in 1967. Sunny remarried in 1972 to Lorne Duguid but separated two years later.

From 1974 until her move to Hillcrest, Sunny lived quietly and contently on her own at Granite Place in Toronto. She is survived by her sons, Brad (Linda Yule) of Toronto and Scott (Eunmi) of Sooke, BC, step-son Peter (Ann) of Toronto, her beloved granddaughter, Hayley Conacher, sister-in-law Eleanor Michas of North Vancouver and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sunny had a lifelong devotion to education. She was a voracious reader and consumer of news, current events and specifically medical advancements. Her interest in the greater good was demonstrated when she founded the Charlie Conacher Cancer Research Fund to help those afflicted with the disease that claimed her husband. She seeded the fund with a $50,000 donation in 1968.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the University of British Columbia or the Georgian Bay General Hospital. It would be a fitting tribute.

Sunny will be cremated. A visitation will be held at the Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre, 375 Mount Pleasant Road (east gate entrance) on April 27th, 7-9 p.m. A private family service and interment will be at 11 a.m. April 28th.

Published by Toronto Star on Mar. 25, 2017.

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Memories and Condolences
for Sunny Conacher

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3 Entries

Pete, we are so sorry to hear of your mother's passing. Our heart felt condolences.
Al and Lorraine

March 27, 2017

Our condolences on your mother's passing
N.H.L. Oldtimers Original six

March 27, 2017

Brad & Scott: I was extremely sorry to hear of your Mother's passing today. I don't know if you will remember me (Dorothy Harrison)of 253 Steeles Ave. E. I lived next door to you. I was several years older than you, but we all went to Lillian St. School. I remember so well what a glamorous lady your Mother was and really admired her. I also remember, like yesterday, when your Dad was home and would pick us up from school in his Cadillac and take us to the local variety store on Yonge St. for pop and candies or chocolate. He would then sit you, Scott, on his lap, and let you steer the car back home. What a thrill that was for all of us! When he wasn't home, we would walk to school or the groundskeeper would drive us. I remember the Christmas parties he would give with a 'real' Santa. One year he got me NHL tickets to Maple Leaf Gardens so I could surprise my uncle and take him to a Leafs' game for his birthday. He was sure impressed as tickets were hard to come by. When your parents went to Hawaii one year, your Mother kindly brought me back a charm bracelet with an island on each charm in the island's shape. I still have it. What fond memories I have! Do you both remember any of the above? I was pleased to see "Conacher Blvd." off of Steeles in honour of your parents. Hope you are both doing well. You are still in my memory. I now am married with two boys and live in Trenton, Ontario.

Dorothy Renaud (nee Harrison)

March 25, 2017

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Memorial Events
for Sunny Conacher

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Funeral services provided by:

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Visitation Centre, Crematorium and Mausoleum

375 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, ON M4T 2V8