May 11, 1934 - April 18, 2024
It is with full but heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear mother and grandmother, Yvonne, who died peacefully in Peterborough, Ontario. She looked radiant with sun on her face and the soothing sounds of her three daughters singing nearby.
Born Yvonne Viola Wood in Snow Road, Ontario, she was the second youngest of eight children and remembered for her shimmering auburn ringlets.
Her humble beginnings taught her to be self-sufficient, hard working, determined, and resilient. Mom’s modest nature meant she seldom talked about the academic awards she won in high school or being class valedictorian. We know her family was very proud when she earned scholarships to Queen’s University, the first in her family to attend.
At Queen’s, she earned a degree in mathematics, a pioneering and rare choice for a young woman in the 1950s. It was there that she met our father and their lives in teaching began at Sharbot Lake High School (where Mom evidently got Dad his first job!) Moving to North Bay, her career as a razor-sharp math teacher continued at Algonquin Composite School and West Ferris Secondary School.
Tough but fair, each September on the first day of school, our petite, fashionably dressed mom loved to move the big, burly football and hockey players from the back of the class to the front row by simply pointing her index finger in silence. It would help them to ‘pay closer attention’ (and have no doubt she was fully in charge!) She’d always smile recounting this story later in life - a caring softie under her serious veneer. She mentored many young minds who, post-graduation, would stop us on the street to thank our mom for the strong foundation she had given them as they went on to complete university degrees in engineering or math.
Mom was also loads of fun. The teaching community would let loose at large New Year’s Eve parties or in the summer at our Lake Nosbonsing cottage. She loved to ski with friends in Vail, dance, water ski, play tennis, or go for daily walks – before it was popular to do so. An avid driver, she’d bomb around town in her Austin Mini or ‘69 Mustang – her little girls gleefully enjoying a wind-swept ride with Mom on the stick shift, and everyone singing to Simon & Garfunkel’s Baby Driver on the radio.
A constant through Yvonne’s life was a love of singing. As kids, we were amazed to learn Mom performed in a country band one summer in B.C. before we were born (“Girl Songstress from Ontario” on the vintage poster!) We still have the record she cut and would boisterously sing these songs at many happy family gatherings. Mom could harmonize to any tune – her beautiful counterpoint on point until her very last days.
Yvonne was a deeply loyal friend who listened well and provided supportive counsel in times of frustration or sadness. Her dearest friends meant the world to her – you will all be missed very much.
To her girls (including our dear cousin, Nancy), Mom was our hero. She led by example, inspiring us to believe that we could do anything as we watched this capable, working mom juggle it all with style, smarts, and impeccable grammar.
Yvonne will be tremendously missed by daughters Dianne Latchford (Chris), Sandra Swilley, Wendy Sokoluk (Jim), niece Nancy Drozd (Cynthia) and grandchildren Colin, Matthew, Alexandra, and Taro. She was predeceased by her parents, Alva and Viola Wood, siblings Vietta, Elva, Bob, Pete, Shirley, Lorraine and Bruce, and her loving husband, Walter.
We wish our songbird flight; her harmonies will ring true in our ears forever.
A family graveside interment will be held in North Bay, Ontario on May 11th (her birthday and Mother’s Day weekend) where Mom will join our father. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Peter Taylor Math Camp Fund, a Queen’s math camp for girls led by female mathematicians. https://www.givetoqueens.ca/project/view/473.