GYTHA HURST (JOHNSON)

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GYTHA HURST (nee JOHNSON) It is with great sadness that the family announces the death of Gytha Hurst on Wednesday, August 7, 2002, at her home in Toronto, three days after her 93rd birthday. She was predeceased by her beloved husband William Donald Hurst on September 25, 2000. Born in Winnipeg on August 4, 1909, she was the daughter of Gisli and Gudrun Johnson who had emigrated from Iceland to Canada and settled in Winnipeg in 1903. She was predeceased by her brother Professor Helgi Johnson of New Brunswick, New Jersey; and her sisters, Bergthora Robson of Toronto, Ragna St. John of Winnipeg, and infant Unur Johnson. Left to mourn are her two loving children, Marilyn Ragna White (Paul), and William Helgi Donald Hurst (Karen), both of Toronto. Family was such an important aspect of her life, and her love, care and generosity extended to her five grandchildren, Leslie White (Edwin Cass), Cynthia Heyd (Roderick) and Valerie Soper (Phillip), all of Toronto, Andrew Hurst (Gillian Mann), currently in Tanzania, and Christian Hurst of Toronto. Fortunate to know her were her six great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Connor Heyd, Katie and Madeleine Cass, and Matthew and Emma Soper. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst had moved to Toronto in 1996 to be close to their family. Gytha lived a fulfilling life in Winnipeg and at her summer home at Beachside, MB. The cottage was a haven for her family and the many good friends who gathered there. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a B.A. in 1932 and was a member of the Alpha Phi Fraternity. She was active in the Winnipeg community, serving as Vice President of the Womens Committee of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, President of the Professional Engineers Wives Club of Manitoba and was an active member of the McKinnon Guild of the Childrens Hospital of Winnipeg. She always had a keen interest in the arts, being an accomplished violinist, an exceptional water colourist and a fine needlepoint artist. Her Icelandic heritage was always close to her heart and she held a very keen interest in the activities of both the Winnipeg and Toronto Icelandic communities. She visited Iceland with her sister Bergthora and this was a very meaningful experience for her. The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to her dedicated caregivers, Renate von Wersebe, Beck Peralta, Jeddah Cal and Shirley de la Cruz, who lovingly cared for her for the past number of years. The family will receive friends at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, Toronto (1-800-616-3311), from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 12. A service will be held at THE DONWAY COVENANT UNITED CHURCH, Toronto, on Tuesday, August 13 at 2:00 p.m. A private family service of interment will be held in Winnipeg on Friday, September 6, followed by a reception for friends from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Manitoba Club, 194 Broadway. Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, an expression of sympathy may be made to the University of Manitoba, Department of Private Funding, Frank Kennedy Centre, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Attention: Chair of Icelandic Studies.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 10, 2002