Beryl Christine Frow
Beryl Christine Frow (nee Roberts) passed away in the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning, October 3rd, 2020. She was born on January 29, 1929 in Toronto, Ontario. She is predeceased by her parents, Charles R. M. Roberts of Rotherham, England and Marjory Christie of Stanley, Scotland, and her loving husband of 63 years, William "Bill" Ernest Frow. Beryl is survived by her sister Carol , and her daughters and sons-in-law Caryl (William) and Judy (Gene). Beryl adored her four grandchildren Douglas, Camilla, Emma (Louis ) and Jennifer. She was very blessed and happy to welcome her great-granddaughter, Lorelei Beryl.
Beryl and Bill always loved the Huntsville area, coming here to ski in their younger days and bringing their two daughters camping and canoeing as the family grew. They decided to retire and move permanently to Huntsville in 1988, a decision neither of them ever regretted.
Beryl will be remembered in Toronto and Huntsville for her endless generosity, especially as a volunteer. As a prolific knitter, she has knitted baby sweaters, hats and blankets that were sent north and around the world. At age 91, she was still leading a knitting group at Fairvern for the residents, coaching the ladies to knit and crochet squares which she took home to sew together for afghans to be given to new babies; in 2019 one of these blankets won first prize at a local fair.
Over her lifetime Beryl baked thousands of mouth-watering cookies and other goodies for St. Patrick’s Anglican Church in Toronto and All Saints Anglican Church in Huntsville and for whoever needed a treat or a good meal. Mom lovingly shared all her skills with her daughters and granddaughters.
She was also an active volunteer at Cummer Lodge (Toronto) and at Fairvern Nursing Home (Huntsville), for the Anglican Women’s Auxiliary, and for Royal Canadian Legion Huntsville Branch 232. Beryl and Bill were also dedicated members of the Friends of Muskoka Pioneer Village executive team.
Her particular talent, though, was as a painter. She studied with Grant Johnson in Toronto as a young woman. Her subjects included farm houses and churches, forest and water scenes, exquisite still life arrangements, and the occasional abstract work. How wonderful to come home from school and smell turpentine - we girls knew instantly that it was a painting day for Mom! One of her paintings once hung in the old Toronto City Hall. Several were given away, for fundraising raffles at her daughters' high school. Her artistic skills later evolved into painting stage sets (built by husband Bill) for the Yorkminstrels (Toronto) and several Huntsville theatre groups: the All Saints’ Players, the Rotary Club, Huntsville Festival of the Arts, Trinity United Church and Stina Nyquist productions.
Beryl had the greenest thumb on the planet and a dry sense of humor even until the end. She loved watching and feeding the birds and chipmunks in their backyard and was pleased that she had finally outwitted the squirrels with her newest birdfeeder. She loved the outdoors, hiking and canoeing but mostly she loved her family, friends and especially her grandkids.
The family is eternally grateful to everyone in Huntsville who helped Beryl and Bill and welcomed them into your community, and especially to those who cared for our mother during these final months: The Palliative Care Team (HOPE Huntsville) of the Algonquin Family Health Team and the dedicated and caring staff of the East Wing of the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Site
Due to the limitations and restrictions of COVID-19 the family will hold a private service in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation (huntsvillehospitalfoundation.ca) or to a charity of your choice.