Predeceased by husband Frank in 2008, and sister Carol in 2018. Survived by son Terry (Janis) and son Mike (Cherie), five precious grandchildren, Fiona, Jack, Frank, Elley & Jenney, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
" Born December 22, 1939, in the middle of London, England, three months after the Second World War began. My mother was left at home with two-year-old Carol and newborn me while dad worked as a skilled tool and dye maker making armaments. Mothers with babies this young were offered the opportunity to leave London and evacuate to safer areas billeting with families in the North. My mother refused to leave my father, so they spent the war in London spending many, many hours in bomb shelters. Many, many hours ballroom dancing as well! Rations were very scarce, but they somehow made do.
After the war we emigrated to Canada in 1948, landing at Pier 21 in Halifax. We ended up in Hamilton. I attended Westdale Secondary school, graduating from grade 13 in 1959. My parents emigrated to Michigan while I was in grade 10. Not wanting to leave my school and friends, I was able to stay with my best friend Judy Spragg and her family until I graduated. Still not wanting to leave Canada, I decided to go into nursing training at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, halfway to where my parents and sister were in Michigan.
After graduation in 1962, I finally moved to Michigan and worked at a hospital in Grosse Pointe. Meanwhile, going back and forth between there and London in my little red Pontiac Tempest to party with friends, I met and soon fell in love with Frank who was a second lieutenant in the Canadian Military police. We married in 1964. Then the adventure began! Over the next 26+ years, we had 7 postings across Canada, 2 years in England and one year in Gaza. I joined him there for six months and left 5 months before the war there in 1967. Meanwhile I worked, primarily in operating rooms, ERs & ICUs in 8 hospitals, welcomed the amazing gift of son Terry in 1969 and then Michael was born 18 months later in 1970. In the early 90s I finally received my BScN degree from the University of Ottawa. In 1998, I took the opportunity to retire from my VP position at Riverside Hospital as three of the Ottawa hospitals amalgamated. Frank, now retired, also allowed us to travel extensively, often with dear friends Grace & Brian Kent. We spent winters exploring Portugal, Morocco, Argentina, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, and cruising around South America. After Frank’s passing in 2008, I discovered the luxuries of river cruising in Europe. It has been a wonderful and fulfilling life. "
Friends are invited to gather and celebrate Zenia's life on Wednesday September 11th, 2024 at the Borden & Fleming Suites of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice Care Ottawa - May Court Hospice will be appreciated.
I am one of Zenia’s group of friends from Westdale Secondary School, in Hamilton, Ont. & our group of 9 reunited in 2002, & stayed connected & were able to get together a number of times. We have been meeting bi-weekly on Zoom & were able to visit with Zenia via Zoom, when she went to May Court. She was a wonderful friend, & will be dearly missed.