Irene "Heather Thompson (Wood)
Irene “Heather” Thompson (Wood)
March 6, 1953- July 6, 2024 (71 years young)
It is with immense heartache that we share that our family had to say goodbye to this absolute beautiful soul on July 6, 2024 after a sudden stroke she endured seven days earlier.
Heather was born in York, England at her family home on March 6, 1953. She immigrated to Canada on the New York Greek Line from Liverpool to Halifax, Nova Scotia with her mom, older brother, Barry, and older sister, June, when she was just 3 years old, to be reunited with her dad. From there they moved to Toronto where her sister Cindy was born. Eventually they settled in Huntsville where her brothers Ron & Bob were born. Throughout Heather’s life she worked at Deerhurst, Dominion Store and Canada Post. Eventually she became a resource teacher assistant with Community Living Muskoka where she retired from in 2013.
She met the love of her life when she was 18 at a social gathering and two years later they married. They both said it was love at first sight. Their love for one another was unmatched. We learned from them that love is about mutual giving, compassion, care, respect, grace and patience. They were married for 50 wonderful years (just one day shy of their 51st anniversary).
Heather will be incredibly missed by her husband Dave, her children Krista Thompson (Jay Leal), Janis Bennett (Brandon), Mike Thompson (Chelsea) and her grandchildren Ty, Leah and Abby, along with her brothers Barry Wood (Heidi), Ron Wood (Katherine), Bob Wood (Cheryl) and sisters June Wood (Ray) and Cindy Wood. She will also be missed by her sister in-laws Diane O’Connor (Brian) and Debbie Stead and many nieces, nephews and all of her extended family and friends. She was predeceased by parents Jim & Brenda Wood.
From her children…
She was the best mom we could have asked for. As selfless as they come, always putting her family first with every decision she made. She had a gigantic heart full of compassion and empathy for the world around her. Her love was unmatched and endlessly deep for the ones she held dearest. Although her inner circle was small, her friends shared a very special place in her heart. Her close connections with them were very important to her and she loved them very much. She loved her family fiercely and was a great momma to the many dogs in her life. She always stood up for what she felt was right, even if she had to stand alone. She was most comfortable when she was quietly toddering around her house in her garden, but her heaven, her favourite place was at Butter Bowl Hunt Camp with her family. We hope she is there now sitting on the deck, overlooking the lake, feeling the breeze and wind through the trees. She always enjoyed the quiet, the calm and the solitude. She loved the simple pleasures of life and had a profound appreciation for nature and its beauty. She loved the outdoors and spent as much time as she could enjoying it, whether she was kayaking, walking, four-wheeling, cross country skiing, gardening or just relaxing.
Her final moments were spent surrounded by all her kids and her soul mate. The birds began singing loudly, and a soft breeze came into the room off the lake as the smell of milkweed blooms were in the air. A fitting send off for such an extraordinary lady.
She will be missed so deeply and her absence will echo endlessly. Her wishes were to not have a service. We will honour her in our own ways. We know that even though she is gone, she will continue to show all of us special signs of her presence. We will keep her spirit and memories alive and celebrate her often.
Check back on at mitchellfuneralhome.ca for any updates if a celebration is planned at a later date.
We would like to thank Andy’s House Hospice in Port Carling for their compassion, care and support in her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations to Andy’s House or the OSPCA in Bracebridge would be greatly appreciated.