MARY CHARLOTTE HELENE WATKINS

MARY CHARLOTTE HELENE WATKINS (nee MacKINNON) May 25, 1930 - June 28, 2014 The Watkins family is heartbroken to announce the passing of Charlotte on Saturday, June 28, 2014 after her brief but fierce battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife and loyal opposition to Len for over 62 years; the adored mother of Gail, Mike, Lee (Alfie), Annette (Don), Sharon and Drew (Anita); loving grandmother to Eric, Jarred (Ariana), Michelle, Kendra, Kimberley, Tess, Hannah, Kathleen, Mike and great- grandmother to Charlotte. Charlotte was predeceased by her sisters Lou and Anne and her brother Neil. She is lovingly remembered by her surviving siblings Phil, John and Susie (Peter), her sisters-in-law Dora and Joyce (Don, deceased) and her brother-in-law Charlie and by her many nieces and nephews, to whom she was "Auntie Smarties". She was born in Perth, Ontario, but spent most of her coming-of-age years in the Etobicoke Lakeshore area, where she attended New Toronto's 20th Street Public School and Mimico High School from which she graduated at the age of 16 with seven firsts in the province wide final examinations. Although she and Len grew up in the same neighbourhood, went to the same schools and knew each other during their youth, it wasn't until 1949 that they started to date. They married in 1951 and have lived a loving and eventful life ever since. Charlotte was a housewife, gourmet cook, card shark, dog whisperer and lover of all poetry, from the sacred to the profane. She also loved to travel and took full advantage of her seven year stay with Len in Vienna to see Europe and the world and to improve her ballroom dancing. After Len's retirement in 1989, many happy years followed with summers in Deep River and winters in the warmth and sunshine of Destin, Florida, where she played golf, ate seafood and shared laughs with Len. She was the heart of our family and we will miss her gentle soul forever. At Charlotte's request, she was cremated and there will be no funeral service. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 19th, at 6 p.m. at The Masters Condominium Club House, 288 Mill Road, Etobicoke. The family would like to acknowledge the kindness and care of Charlotte in her final days by Dr. Terry McVey and the nursing staff at the Deep River and District Hospital. We also thank the Community Care Access Centre, especially Frances Alt, for their ongoing care of Mom over the past five years. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Charlotte are gratefully asked to contribute to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Deep River and District Hospital Foundation. Online condolences can be expressed at the Valley Funeral Home website.