Frank McKechnie Library staff (co-workers)

Entered August 12, 2016 from Mississauga

We would like to extend our condolences to Gwen's family. Gwen touched so many of our lives here at the Frank McKechnie Library where she worked as a page for 16 years. Gwen was a very dedicated worker - during the worst snowstorm imaginable she made her way walking through the snow to get to work only to find we had to close because no other staff were able to make it in. She walked and bussed all over Mississauga. Gwen taught piano and shared her love of music by playing the keyboard at the many potlucks and parties held at the branch. Her scalloped potatoes brought to work in her crock pot in her buggy were always a big hit. Gwen enthusiastically joined in on any team event. Her laugh was engaging and to catch her grinning was pure fun.

Ingrid Duffy (Friend of Judy Sutherland ( sister of Gwen))

Entered August 12, 2016 from Kitchener, Ontario

Judy, Don and family; Thinking of you and wishing you peace and comfort in this time of sorrow. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

Maura Randi (Co worker)

Entered August 12, 2016 from Mississauga

My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Gwen will be dearly missed. Gwen I will never forget you. You are an angel.
Hugs to all.
Maura

Dave and Linda Sherk (Friends at the Dwelling Place)

Entered August 13, 2016 from Fisherville Ontario

We will miss her friendly smile. It was always a joy to see her whenever she visited at our church while she was staying with Al and Carol-Lyn.

Anne and Allan Higginson (Sister and Brother in Christ)

Entered August 14, 2016 from Lower Sackville, NS

So sad to hear about this unfortunate accident. We continue to hold the whole family up in prayer. Our love goes out to you.

MEMORIES OF GWEN
I met Gwen in 1985 on her first day working at World Vision. I invited her to have morning break with me and she helped me get a coffee. That 15 minutes of conversation was the beginning of our lifelong friendship.

As you have already heard and know, Gwen’s dedication to God and helping others came first in her life. I have been a witness and shared with her in her 5:30 AM devotions. She put me to shame.

If she could help someone in any way, she willingly volunteered. She helped pack and unpack when I moved and went shopping with me using Transhelp if I couldn’t manage to bring something home on my own. She counted the laps I did in my condo hallway when I was training for my 2 kilometre walk for World Vision in 2014. I could always depend on Gwen when I needed assistance.

Gwen and I liked to travel together. The first trip we took was a one-day bus trip to Pennsylvania with a group of ladies from her church. We went from Mississauga to Pennsylvania and back in one day. We spent most of the day traveling on the bus and agreed that we wouldn’t do that again but decided we were good traveling companions. Everywhere we went, Gwen handled the luggage for both of us.
For 3 summers we went to the Brethren in Christ Family Bible camp in Megnatawan Ontario. Actually, Camp Kahquah is up north in the middle of nowhere. It is not easy to get there traveling by bus but the scenery is beautiful. That is one of the reasons we went back each year.

On one of our last excursions we visited Judy and Don when they lived in the Beaver Valley. The trips we took were hardly ever straightforward but that was part of the adventure and our holiday.

Gwen was never really interested in computers. However, when the Worship Leader at Heartland Church said that the Worship Team was going to use the computer to learn new songs, she bought herself an I-Pad. Gwen became rather attached to her I-Pad. She carried it with her everywhere. She always had a family picture to show me - the newest picture of her little nephews, a picture of Brent’s canine partner police dog and Treasure, her cat.

Another thing that Gwen and I enjoyed doing together was watching movies. A week before her accident she came over to my place for dinner and a movie. Her choice was “Christian Mingle, the Movie.” She never had the nerve to sign up on site but she really wanted to see the movie. For dinner, I gave Gwen the choice of hot dogs, corn on the cob and salad or we can order a Pizza. I knew she liked both. Gwen never liked to make choices. Her answer always was, “doesn’t matter.” I was surprised this time when she said, “I haven’t had corn on the cob in a long time.” We went with option one.

Like we all will, I will miss Gwen very much but I will have lots of great memories of all the time we spent together and the things we did.

To the family and friends of a very special young woman, Gwen.

Gwen came to work for us at our Music Studios in Mississauga approx. 25 yrs. ago. She worked on the desk taking phone calls, greeting students as they came in and organizing the teachers’ schedules.

She very soon became a personal friend to us all, especially our family.
As the student body grew, Gwen started teaching some of the students as well. She began taking singing lessons with me and accomplished getting her grade 8 certificate with the Royal Conservatory. She had already taken her grade 10 piano previously. Gwen was a person who, if she saw a need, she did something about it. Never idle! She made a basket full of slippers for the students to slip on when they came in with wet or muddy shoes in winter, she crocheted a bunch of treble clefs to be used as bookmarks for the students as Christmas gifts. Gwen wasn't above doing some cleaning when she saw the need. She was definitely “God's Provision” for us, as we also had a store and music studios in Pickering to look after. However, we believe God used our music studios to help Gwen. After praying for a job, she looked in the yellow pages and found us, called us, came for an interview, got the job - “Praise God!”
Since we've grown old and retired, she has remained close to us and always had a place in our home.

Gwen gave me a gift – a plaque of the 23 Psalm. I kept it on the dresser in the room Gwen slept in when she visited us. I would like to close with these beautiful words from that Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd - my safety
I shall not want - my supply
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures – my peace
He leadeth me beside still waters – my harmony
He restoreth my soul – my healing
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness – my guidance
For His name's sake - my purpose
Yea though I walk through the valley of death – my companion
I will fear no evil – my confidence
For thou art with me – my protection
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me – my instruction
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies – my provision
Thou anointest my head with oil – my consecration
My cup runneth over – my abundance
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life – my blessing
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever – MY ETERNAL HOME!

With our love and sympathy; Marie & Jim Alexander