Gladys RUSSELL

GLADYS RUSSELL (née Neill) Gladys passed away peacefully, in her sleep, on July 31, 2023. We all know the death of an older loved one is inevitable, but we also can never be fully prepared for it. We are all greatly saddened to have lost the matriarch of our family. Gladys was the 11th child of Tom and Jenny Neill, born on February 14, 1923, in Portadown, N.I. The family immigrated to Canada in 1930, settling on a farm in Hartland, New Brunswick, and from the many stories she recounted to her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, this remained the fondest place in her heart. Gladys moved to Toronto in the 1940s and married Arthur John Russell, and for someone who was conservative in nature, lead a life full of love and adventures with all the ups and downs that those words imply. Gladys was open and generous, incredibly engaging and had a warm smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. In addition to her many roles as a business partner to Arthur, a loyal and loving wife, a mother, she was also a warm and loving mother-in law to Eileen. But her biggest role, and the one we remember her most for, was as a matriarch of the family and loving nanny to us all (especially to her granddaughter Elikem and, particularly, to her granddaughter Ofeibea, to whom Gladys was a loving 'Ima' in her later years). She made the family homes on Glenwood, Fairhill, Onslow, and Rose Park warm, welcoming hearths for her family, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, friends, neighbours and pets. We are lucky to have had her in our lives. Gladys is survived by her son Barry, his wife Eileen, granddaughters (and their husbands) Elikem (Vinko) and Ofeibea (Niall) and great grandson Cole. Although Gladys was not a strong believer in the afterlife, she did believe that we live on in the hearts and memories of others, in which case she will live on for a long, long time. That is why she always quoted this song title for the deceased in her life, and now we quote it for her: 'The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.' There will be a celebration of life for Gladys in September, specifics to be determined. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Belmont House, 55 Belmont Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1R1. Go with love from all of us, and rest in peace.