Wendy Ernst

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Wendy Ernst (nee Marshall). Wendy passed away peacefully, with her immediate family by her side, on Thursday, June 24, in her 75th year, after a heroic effort against the perils of ALS. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, David, her son Chris and her daughter Alison. Wendy was the daughter of Gordon and Coleen Marshall, born and raised in Brantford. Wendy's presence is, and will continue to be, woven through our lives.

As a dedicated educator, she also shaped a generation of students. Even into her final years, former pupils continued to reach out to express their appreciation and deep affection. Wendy loved the classroom and the difference she made to those young children in her care. A graduate from the Hamilton Teachers College, she won many awards:

- The Principal's Prize for Practice Teaching
- The Hamilton Spectator Award
- The Youths' Friends of Canada Inc. Bursary for Art
- The Brantford Expositor Award.

Outside the classroom, Wendy loved adventure, travelling to more than 30 countries! A certified Anglophile, she toured extensively throughout the UK, taking extension courses at universities and making lasting friendships. Most recently, she explored England in a 52-foot canal boat with David at the helm. Her exploits took her to Africa, where she slept in a tent in the Okavango Delta in Botswana with bull elephants wandering through the camp, hippos in the water in front of her, wild boars throughout the site, baboons living in the trees above throwing branches at her and she accepted bats in the only covered portion of the outdoor bathroom. She enjoyed a predawn hot air balloon ride over the Kalahari Desert. She got up at 3 AM and then climbed up a 300 ft sand dune to see a sunrise in the Namib Desert. She flew down the Zambezi River - 8 ft above the actual water by a pilot that had to have flown in Vietnam. Not her first helicopter ride but the best one ever for sure. In typical fashion, she also made friends, with whom she continued to travel for years to come. She ventured to Australia, where, amongst various exploits, she climbed the Sydney Bridge. Through her church, St. Christopher's, she went to the Caribbean, to help in various projects and teach the children who accompanied her about the values of charity and humility. Closer to home, Wendy sailed the Great Lakes and the North Channel for over 40 years. After that, she learned the basics of operating their powerboat and loved the comfort it provided. Her final adventure was her biggest challenge: ALS. Even though breathing, eating and swallowing became major tests, she walked the neighborhood, smiling and doing her very best to chat with the neighbors and their children. They would draw pictures for her and bring them to her door just to hear her say thank you and see her smile. Indeed, she made friends everywhere she went.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. with a short service at 2 p.m., at the Burlington Golf and Country Club.

She will be missed by family and friends. For those who wish, donations in memory of Wendy may be made to the "Wendy Ernst Journey to Success Award," administrated by the Halton Learning Foundation and would be sincerely appreciated by the family.