BERNADETTE HUNTER Obituary

BERNADETTE (DETTE) HUNTER Died of acute myeloid leukemia on March 10, 2013. Born in Utica, New York in 1943 (daughter of Nels and Helen Nelson), she became a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone (1965 - 1967), where she met and married her Canadian husband, John Hunter. They moved to Canada and had three children: Chris, Sarah and Mary. Dette started Traditions Press with Jocelyn Shipley in Newmarket, Ontario, where they published best-selling books for children and parents. Dette later joined Annick Press as an author. Dette's eight grandchildren (Charles, Claire and Abby Hunter; Amy, Sam and John Ecclestone; Phoebe and Eliza Macmillan) - whom she loved deeply - constantly amused and amazed her. She had special friendships with her in-laws: Cindy Chung Hunter, Peter Ecclestone and Stuart Macmillan. Dette remained close with her extended American family, especially her sisters: Christine Nelson, Helen Ann (Frank Carcio) and Anita (Brian Hanaburgh). Dette was constantly grateful for the many blood transfusions that allowed her to spend such wonderful time with her family. She encouraged donations to the Canadian Blood Services and the American Red Cross Blood Services.

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Published by Toronto Star on Mar. 16, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for BERNADETTE HUNTER

6 Entries

Arthur and Stefanie Lee

April 2, 2013

Dear John, Chris, Sarah, Mary and families. Please accept our deepest condolences for your loss. Like so many others, she touched our lives and those of our own children very deeply and will be sincerely missed. The games she played with our children when she and John visited, made them laugh and learn at the same time. She made them feel welcomed and loved, as if they were her own grandchildren. What an incredible gift she had that I know has been passed to her own children and grandchildren.

Greg brown

March 26, 2013

John and family, so sorry for your loss! You are with us in our thoughts and prayers. We will cherish the two years we had as your neighbours at Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.
Greg & Joy

March 25, 2013

John and family, we are so often reminded
that immortality is not an option, but still Dette seems to have given the lie
to this because of a well-lived life and
a loving family full of memories and comfort for one another. We hear
of you through the Shipleys.
Our sympathy....
Bill Emigh and Colin Tilney,
Victoria, BC

Laurene Gilbert

March 21, 2013

There will never be a time when I don't make a pot of tea and won't hear Dette say, “steep for four minutes, not a minute more, not a minute less.” Lately I am recalling all the times Dette and John opened up their home and their refrigerator to us. Shuffling us all around Toronto to see the sights; China Town, the Shoe Museum, sipping coconut milk right from the coconut on hot summer days, slipping into an air conditioned theatre to get out of the heat and further cooling us off by choosing to see March of the Penguins. I really miss you Dette. Please watch over us and give my love to Steve.

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Allan Shipley

March 18, 2013

Many people know of the special relationship between Dette and my wife Jocelyn as friends, neighbours and especially as co-authors and joint publishers. But I too had a unique connection with Dette. She is the only person I ever knew who had the same birthday as me. Every birthday hereafter will be sad reminder that I have no one left to share it with.

Mary Gilbert

March 16, 2013

Dear Hunters and Nelsons,
I am so sorry for your loss and feel incredibly blessed to have been related to and known Dette. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Muff

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results

Memorial Events
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