ANTOINETTE (TONI) SCATLIFF (MURPHY)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ANTOINETTE (TONI) SCATLIFF (nee MURPHY) Our beloved mother completed her journey to the Lord on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at home attended by a family filled with gratitude for nearly 95 years of love and devotion. Among the many she is now reunited with in Heaven are our father and her beloved husband of sixty-three years, John, her mother Edith, her father Edward, as well as her five brothers and sisters and two grandchildren, Mark and James. Among the many people celebrating her life are her six children, Chris, John (Susanne), Susan (Brian), Tim (Louise), Judy (Murry) and Michael (Shawnee), her grandchildren Christopher, Megan (Russell), Jeffrey, Gillian, Ian (Chantal), Nicole (Bruce), Robert (Colette), Leanne (Stefan), Elissa (Cam), Debbie (Joel), Kim (Scott), Allison (Ed), David (Rachel), Kate (Tanny), Tom (Candice), Sara (Tim), John (Jacqueline), Jenny, Kris, David, Talia, Tecla and Turk, and her thirty-two great-grandchildren who all knew her as Great - Abby, Eric, Ava, Noah, Jasia, Keziah, Anya, Danika, Riel, Luke, Jesse, Jacob, Dylan, Brooke, Jack, Kate, Ellie, Ava, Noah, Rhys, Mira, Bowen, Zoe, Zander, Zayda, Zara, Tyger, Aysia, Tommy, Jonathon, Preston, plus three on the way - sixty three in all. Joining them are countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Born in Saskatoon on May 9, 1917 of Irish Catholic heritage she grew up a vivacious, outgoing girl, full of fun and laughter. At eighteen she travelled to Winnipeg where she trained as an RN at St. Boniface Hospital. Always adventuresome, on graduation in 1939 she accepted her uncles' invitation to holiday in England and when war broke out stayed to work in London hospitals. Trained as a midwife, she moved among hospitals delivering babies whilst around her Londoners were enduring the Blitz. It was there amongst many suitors she met a young English doctor with whom she became engaged and married in 1942. They spent the rest of the war and some years afterward practicing family medicine in Sussex. In 1948 they responded to Canada's post-war call for doctors and left England for a family medicine practice in the southwestern Manitoba prairie. After many adventures of country medicine, including making a makeshift maternity ward and nursery in their home and venturing out to remote farms by horse and buggy or snowshoe, increasing responsibilities in Dad's medical practice took them to Winnipeg, where they raised their family. In 1984, retirement took them to Victoria and many full years of enjoyment of being in a home by the sea. Toni and John were devout in their Catholic faith and support of Catholic education, including being involved in administrative positions and active service both in Winnipeg and Victoria. They were active parishioners of Holy Cross in Victoria. Mum's real passion was family. She loved exploring the beauty of gardens and forests, and especially taking the scenic drive around Victoria's coastline. She was a loving mother and grandmother whose home was always open to the many frequent visitors, especially all the children who were her constant delight. Sunday supper was the tradition, and Grannie's place was the headquarters for family and friends from all over two continents. She was very simply the glue that bonded together a far-flung family and by so doing bestowed on everyone that wonderful blessing that is a close family. Special thanks to Leah Danila, an angel, for her wonderful and loving care to our mother in her final days. A Mass in celebration of her life will be held at Holy Cross Parish, on Tuesday, February 21, at 1:00 p.m. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mccallbros.com. McCall's of Victoria, BC (1-800-870-4210)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 21, 2012