It is with overwhelming sadness that we announce the passing of Nan Spurr(also known as Mom and Nanny).

Antoinette (Nan)Irene (Stokes) Spurr Baggs, who was born March 26, 1928 in San Dimas California to Lincoln and Hattie (Sharkey) Stokes, died on May 3, 2018 in Mississauga, ON. She recently celebrated a wonderful 90th birthday with many family members and friends. She is survived by her children Jane Spurr(Susan MacLeod), Deborah Spurr and Mark Spurr(Gina Maradiaga), her grandchildren Jack and Ava Spurr, members of the extended Stokes, Spurr and Baggs families, the children of Pierre de Blois and their families, and countless friends she made wherever she lived, many of whom she remained close to until her final days. She was predeceased by her parents and all her siblings Roy, Daisy, Leone, Melba, Corinne and Robert; first husband Lawrence (Larry) Esmond Spurr (1973); second husband William (Bill) Mitchell Baggs (2012) and son-in-law Pierre de Blois (2017).

As the wife of an RCAF pilot, she and Larry and their kids lived and traveled throughout Europe and North America in the ‘50s and ‘60s, retiring to Middleton, Nova Scotia in 1970. She was frequently left alone with her children in a foreign country when Larry was away on a mission and it was in those times that she showed her true grit and determination to always put family first. Often having to learn to communicate in a new language, she approached these challenges with a smile that endeared her to the many people she met along the way. Many times finding herself thousands of miles from the warm California beaches of her youth, she always embraced the challenges of creating a new home and raised her children to enjoy their good fortune of having these rare and adventurous opportunities.

After Larry’s sudden death in 1973 she continued to live in NS, raising her children and working at Balcom Insurance until the mid 1980’s, a tough period in her life that was made most enjoyable by the kindness extended to her by the entire Balcom family as well as many others. When she moved to Mississauga, Ontario and started a new chapter in life with Bill Baggs, he welcomed the entire Spurr clan with open arms and heart. She and Bill shared a wonderful life together at home or at the cottage, and enjoyed every moment they spent in Arizona and Nevada, escaping the winter weather in Canada.

Nan, an avid reader, card player, bird watcher and great cook made gatherings a joy. The aroma from her homemade brown bread and chicken pies are only two examples of why her kitchen was always full when she was cooking. Her many life long friendships from grade school through the military years and thereafter gave her tremendous joy and she loved nothing more than spending time with family and friends and building community wherever she lived.

Never shy to comment about the news of the day, her opinions were always well informed, and to the point. She was alert and sharp her entire life and maintained this to the very end, choosing to leave this world on her terms. For those that knew her well, they were not only inspired by her compassion for family and friends, but for her thoughtfulness towards women and children less fortunate in life that benefited from her charitable donations.

We wish to say thank you to the nurses and doctors at the Trillium Hospital in Mississauga who showed great compassion and kindness to the entire family during these painful final days. There will be a private family committal service, and in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Covenant House Toronto, the Interval House or the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Mom, Nan, Nanny, will be missed greatly by all of those whose lives she touched.