Penny SANGER

PENNY SANGER (née Ketchum) March 18, 1931 - July 13, 2017

Vibrant and healthy all her life, Penny cycled around her Ottawa neighbourhood and canoed throughout Nares Inlet in the Georgian Bay well into her 80s. She died surrounded by friends, family and Clyde, her husband of 58 years and loving caregiver, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The youngest of three girls and elder sister to three boys born to Philip and Ottilie Ketchum of Port Hope Ontario, Penny was a tomboy, equally in love with books and the outdoors. She ventured beyond her fortunate circumstances to live and work as a journalist and activist in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Britain and Canada. She wrote for many publications including the Peterborough Examiner, the New Internationalist and founded the Glebe Report. She authored Blind Faith, a book about the toxic legacy of the nuclear industry on her hometown of Port Hope. Penny helped launch and run numerous peace and social justice organizations, including the Canadian chapter of the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa, the Ottawa Miles for Millions Campaign, Group of 78, Canadian Friends of Burma, the Make Room for Peace campaign, and Educating for Peace. She raised four sons, setting an example of living with joy and conviction, opening her heart and house to many. She introduced them - and many other new Canadians - to the beauty of the land she loved. Cyclist, skier, skater, sailor, environmentalist, inveterate skinny-dipper, canoe-lover and tripper, late-night reader, befriender and supporter of underdogs (including Moto), her values and passions live on in all who loved her. She is sorely missed by Clyde, brothers Tony and Nick, sons Matthew, Richard, Toby and Daniel, her beloved daughters-in-law Mary, Debbie, Narissa and Catherine, ten very lucky grandchildren Ariel, Maeve, Malcolm, Claire, Louis, Tommy, Alia, Adam, Antoine and Eliza. Many thanks to Dr Gluszynski and the staff at The Ottawa Hospital, for their superb and compassionate care. A celebration of Penny's life will be held on September 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Glebe Community Centre in Ottawa. We suggest donations to Mines Action Canada or another of the many other organizations Penny supported.