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1928 - 2021
1928 - 2021
Obituary
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1928
2021
Ethel Sewell Toivonen Simpson, age 93, suddenly passed away on May 22, 2021 in hospice care. Born January 20, 1928 in Jarrow, Newcastle on Tyne, England, she moved to Thunder Bay at a very early age where she spent most of her life. She was predeceased by two husbands: Hans Toivanen of 50 years and Jim Simpson of 6 years of marriage; both children, William Allen Toivonen and Susan Ellen Peterson (Toivonen); parents Elizabeth and Joseph and brother Watson Sewell. Survived by sister Jolene Wawryshyn; granddaughters Lauren Lewis, Erin Dalton; grandsons Christopher, Jonathan, Jacob Toivonen, cousins Joan Baril and Barbara Warburton, son-in-law, Daniel Peterson; great grandchildren Niko and Layla Toivonen and Alexander and Isabell Lewis. Ethel enjoyed playing golf with her friends and bridge with the girls. She had lots of fond memories of many dinners an luncheons with friends and family. Ethel loved to travel and spent many a winter in Florida with both Hans and Jim. In her later years, she would stay with Susan in Palm Desert for a month or two. A private interment will be held at the family plot. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church.
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3 Entries
Joan Duke
July 14, 2021
I loved Ethal. She was a rock and a dear friend. So funny, wise and thoughtful. She will be missed❤ We last spoke in April. I cherish our time together. She was cherished by my parents. Joan Duke (daughter of Irene and John Nickerson)
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Joan Baril
June 24, 2021
A dear friend and I will miss her.
Terry Daniels
June 22, 2021
I had the exceptional opportunity to get to know Ethel threw my work. She and I had numerous conversations and were able to comfort one another and I hope I was as good a friend to her as she was to me. She had all the grace and class one could expect. Rest now my dear friend.
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