It is with great sadness that we announce the passing on Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 of Jacqueline Jenifer Cuttress Miesner in her 89th year at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, Essex, England after a brief illness. Jacky (Jac) was the beloved daughter of the late Claude Humphrey and the late Margery (Webb) Humphrey of England, and the loving wife of the late Arthur Miesner. She was a devoted mother to Debbi Meredith, Chris Cuttress, and Rick Cuttress of Huntsville, and Claudia (Kieren) Cuttress, and Heather (Garry) Cuttress of Toronto. Preceded in death by son-in-law Dave Newton. Jacky will be missed by her step-children David (Kate) Miesner and Peter (Maria) Miesner of England. Predeceased by step-daughter Ann Witmore, and survived by Ann’s husband, Tom. A beloved grandmother (Mummummie) to Jay (Steve) Meredith and Bobbi (Todd) Meredith, Julie Cuttress, Colin (Joanna) Cuttress, Sarah (Chris) Patience, Megan (Eric) Dallaire, Erin (Beau) Cuttress, Jenna Cuttress, David Smyth and Emma Smyth. A cherished step-grandmother to Miranda Miesner, Justine Howard, Sean Witmore, James Miesner, Becky Miesner, and Jonathan Miesner. Predeceased by Christopher Miesner. Jacky was a great grandmother of 19 and a great-great grandmother of 3.

Predeceased by her brother Peter, sister-in-law Miranda, and niece Nida, Jacky will be fondly remembered by her nieces Vanessa and Manda, extended family and friends.

Jacky was born in Romford on June 13, 1932. In her early years, she and her family lived above the family catering and bake shop at the Romford Market Place. During the London Blitz, she attended a boarding school in the Midlands where she stayed for about eight years, returning home during holidays and summer break. After the war, it was at her mother’s house in Gidea Park when she was 15 that Jacky learned to ride a motorcycle, acquired one, and found a new sense of freedom in her ability to travel in and around London of her own volition. By the time she was 20, she’d studied catering at college and shortly thereafter accepted a position as the head of catering and food services at a large hospital.

Jacky immigrated to Canada in 1954, landing in Halifax and finding her way to Toronto where she worked a series of jobs. Following a trip to Muskoka, she eventually took a summer job at Tally-Ho Resort outside of Huntsville, Ontario, where she met and later married Reg Cuttress. Jacky raised her five children in Huntsville and nearby Dwight. She regularly volunteered to design and craft costumes for school plays, to bake and donate goods to raise funds for school and other events, and became known for her ability to create and decorate beautiful cakes for anniversaries, weddings and other special occasions. She also studied Early Childhood Education and assisted with the local kindergarten class.

In 1983, she returned to England and reunited with her brother’s close friend, Arthur, who she would later marry. Jacky and Arthur built a wonderful life together, traveling for many years across Europe in their VW camper, creating extraordinary memories and building lifelong friendships wherever they went. After Arthur’s passing, Jacky continued to travel (Australia, New Zealand, China) frequenting Greece to visit her brother and his family, and of course Canada to visit with her children and their growing families. Always one to live life to its fullest, at the age of 67 she joined her grand-daughter on a backpacking trip through Europe, traveling by train and sleeping in hostels to ensure an authentic experience.

Jacky was incredibly creative and gifted in so many ways (baking, knitting, sewing, drawing and painting, writing and calligraphy) and was never timid in exploring her interests, including carpentry. Throughout her life, she remained an avid reader with a strong knowledge and interest in history, and in researching both hers and Arthur’s ancestry.

From milking a cow, to painting a home mural to building a Murphy bed while in her seventies, there was nothing that she deemed too difficult to accomplish. Her optimism, positive outlook and keen sense of humour rarely waivered. After losing her leg in her mid-eighties, Jacky again demonstrated her determination and perseverance in learning to use a prosthetic limb and continued to live independently in her flat in England until her passing.

Jacky was surrounded by an extended family of friends and neighbours who provided her with love and support when it was most needed. In particular, Jacky’s family is forever grateful to Ashley and Patricia Collinson for the love, kindness and friendship they bestowed upon Jacky over the past many years.

In memory of Jacky, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. A family funeral by invitation only will be held in England on January 14, 2021 with a celebration of life to follow in Ontario, Canada, sometime thereafter.