Mabel Lutchminia Muttoo (Drepaul)
Born February 22, 1931

Mabel Muttoo passed away peacefully on May 7, 2021 at home in Oakville, Ontario. She was surrounded by family and was 90 years old.

Mabel was born in Guyana, South America to Harry Drepaul and Albertha Nathoo. She was the youngest of nine children, and their mother passed when she was still a little girl. She grew up in the Corentyne in Berbice and had a happy childhood on her father’s farm. Life was simple for the young “Meena” as she watched her sister cooking and baking in the outdoor ovens, rode her horse, climbed trees with her brother, and ate mangoes with her friends. It was here that her love of animals began. She shared stories of her childhood with great delight, right to the last days of her life.

Mabel’s life changed when she met Francis Muttoo. The charismatic, guitar-playing, young minister was captivated by the vibrant and beautiful Sunday school teacher, and they were married in the Corentyne in Guyana on April 28, 1948. Mabel grew into her role as mother and as a minister’s wife. She parented with the support of her family and community, as Francis went to further his education abroad and to prepare the family to first move to Trinidad in 1959, and eventually to Canada in 1965. Mabel raised her children with love but her strength came as a role model to her six children. Whether it was taking care of the neighbourhood children in her home community, or feeding whoever came through the doors of her home, she demonstrated willingness, patience, and a healthy dose of humour. Her children learned about acceptance, compassion, and care of fellow human beings as they observed their mother. Mabel was committed to her children whom she loved deeply. Her most earnest and consistent prayer was for their well-being and happiness, and she spent many hours on her knees in prayer for them and their families. She demonstrated a simplicity of faith with a deep and strong sense of what God meant to her in her own life, and she wasn’t afraid to share it. As a minister’s wife, she stood by her husband and shared her own gifts, a force on her own, loving and caring for others. She was the ultimate minister’s wife, serving congregations and church families alongside her husband in Guyana, Trinidad, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New York, California, the Bahamas, and Florida. As her husband’s ministry changed and shifted, Mabel demonstrated flexibility and willingness as she supported him in the sharing of God’s message.

Mabel was simply a shining light. She had the ability to brighten a room with her presence. It is that light that helped her through all of the illnesses that she encountered. Illnesses that could have debilitated instead strengthened her. She touched the lives of anyone who cared for her, with a smile, a word of encouragement, and her genuine caring spirit. This remarkable woman made everyone feel special. The nurses and care workers that came into her life over the past years developed strong attachments to Mabel as they recognized the light that was within her.

Mabel is predeceased by her loving husband, Rev. Dr. Francis Muttoo who passed away in January of 2020. They were deeply committed to each other in a marriage of over 71 years which brought six children into their lives. She is survived by Zillah Juyal (Shreesh), Anna Scolaro (John), Elizabeth Jobse (Jim), Donald Muttoo (Maureen), Debbie Hurst (Martin), and Corinne Davison (Heather). She has 14 grandchildren - is predeceased by Geoffrey Francis Jobse - and 15 great-grandchildren, every one of whom she absolutely adored. The only surviving member of her birth family is her dear brother Kenneth Drepaul (Norma) of Winnipeg Manitoba. Mabel is also survived by her sisters-in-law Doreen Muttoo, of Toronto, Angela Muttoo of Mississauga, and Belen Muttoo of Winnipeg, with whom she shared deep bonds of treasured friendships.

The family wishes to express a special thank you to Mabel’s daughter and family - Debbie and Martin Hurst, and their daughters Jaclyn, Stacie, and Chelsey - for their outstanding care of Mabel (Mom and Mama) over the past 16 months. They opened their hearts and their home to help with the transition after the loss of Mabel’s beloved husband. Their support and commitment to caring for their mother into her palliative care and to her last breath, during this unprecedented time, is deeply appreciated by all members of the family.

Due to Public Health Covid-19 Restrictions at this time, a very small funeral service for invited guests will be held at 10 am on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at Meadowvale Funeral Centre in Brampton, Ontario, with Rev. Dr. Harald Schoubye officiating. The service will be live streamed. The link for the live stream will be available on the top of this webpage at 9:45am the morning of the service.

Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Mabel are encouraged to contribute to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation.