MARDELLE BISHOP

(nee Wheeler, June 10, 1938 – November 8, 2025) Mardelle (Wheeler) Bishop, a devoted supporter of the arts, culture, and environmental stewardship, passed away peacefully, in London, Ontario, on November 8, 2025, at the age of 87, following a short illness. Born in Belleville, Ontario, Mardelle was the only child of Robert Wheeler and Kathleen (Armstrong). After graduating from the University of Guelph (a proud MAC '59er), she trained as a teacher. Following a brief period in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mardelle and her husband, Paul, settled in London, Ontario, where he was a professor and she built a career in bookkeeping. A lifelong advocate for environmental and social causes, Mardelle lived her values through action. Early initiatives included Pollution Probe, her local food cooperative, and local and global conservation efforts. She personally planted thousands of trees and helped protect endangered species. A dedicated gardener, she grew most of her family's produce needs on land in Lucan and London. When healthy food wasn't readily available, as with most things in life, Mardelle simply took care of it herself - baking whole-grain bread with locally milled flour, for example, at a time when that was not common. A passionate supporter of the arts, she worked for many years at the London Art Gallery. In retirement, she volunteered with the VON, her local library, and numerous community initiatives. An avid traveller across Canada and the globe, Mardelle also loved hiking, biking, and cottage time in Tobermory. She met physical challenges with determination - including painting upper storeys, push-mowing lawns, and pruning high branches well into her eighties. Predeceased by her husband, Paul, in 2013, Mardelle will be especially missed by her son, Jonathan; daughter, Andrea; and grandchildren, Nathan, Nicolette, Luca, and Naomi. With her sharp intellect, compassion, wit, and practical spirit, Mardelle will be remembered by many as a co-conspirator, mentor, activist, friend, buppa, and grandma. Those wishing to make a donation in her memory might consider the Canadian Cancer Society or the Nature Conservancy of Canada. www.HarrisFuneralHome.ca