Mary Isabel Thistlethwaite
Posted Feb 3, 2022 | 9:36 AM
Passed away peacefully at The Village Long Term Care Home in Hanover, Ontario on Sunday, January 16, 2022.
Mary Isabel Thistlethwaite (nee Boyd) formerly of Markdale and Flesherton, in her 102nd year. Predeceased sixty years ago by her loving husband, Cecil Laverne Thistlethwaite. Cherished aunt to 21 nieces and nephews, their spouses and many grandnieces and grandnephews. Predeceased by her loving parents and siblings, four nephews, as well as an infant niece many years ago. Isabel will be remembered fondly by a multitude of family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances whose hearts and lives she touched.
Isabel was born in Euphrasia Township in 1920 to John William Boyd and Elizabeth Lavina Manary. She lived much of her life in Grey County, her Flesherton house circa 1956 until 2002, then her apartment in Markdale until October 23, 2018, when Isabel moved into The Village Long Term Care Home in Hanover, Ontario.
Returning from her secretarial post with the Department of National Defense in Ottawa, circa 1945, Isabel made her career choice to become a nurse. She graduated in the Class of 1948B from the Hamilton General Hospital School of Nursing with academic accolades, winning awards not only in practical nursing, but also surgical nursing, and with perfect marks in psychiatric theory. Her first job, appropriately enough, was in her hometown of Markdale, where she worked for a few months in Dr. R.L Carefoot‘s private hospital. Isabel left temporarily in January 1949 to fulfill a promise she had made to take a job as an office nurse for a specialist in Peterborough. She returned in September 1949, when she would become Centre Grey General Hospital’s first Superintendent, which post she held for approximately two years. A plaque bearing her maiden name, Isabel Boyd, is in that hospital founded by Dr. R. L. Carefoot in the late 1920s. Hopefully the plaque finds its way into the new Markdale Hospital –presently under construction.
Moving on to BC Isabel gained further surgical and ER experience in Chilliwack and Vancouver hospitals. When Isabel’s father became ill, she returned to Markdale to attend to his nursing needs shortly before his passing in 1953.
Isabel married in 1956 and only after lung cancer claimed the life of her husband, Cecil, in 1962 did she decide to leave the hospital setting. She obtained her Public Health Nurse diploma from the University of Toronto, receiving a commendation in Geriatric Nursing theory. Having worked approximately 20 years as a Community Health Nurse, Isabel retired from the Grey County Health Unit in 1985. You may recall her tending to your health needs while in school. You may cherish memories of your close relationship, or a casual acquaintance, with Isabel. Fortune cookie messages Isabel often received certainly revealed truths about her, “Your generosity will be rewarded”, “You are the master of every situation”, and “Your talents will be recognized and rewarded”, come to mind.
As a literary, with an extensive home library, Isabel submitted many articles published in the Markdale Standard over the years. Revelling in poetry, Isabel wrote numerous poems on a variety of subjects. She had an artistic flair, was accomplished in the kitchen and loved to entertain. Her home reflected what many would agree was her eclectic nature, and there is no doubt she lived life to the fullest and on her terms.
Nieces Lois and Jeannette would like to thank the many fellowship groups, businesses and numerous individuals in the Markdale and Flesherton area for their years of friendship and caring, as well as care provided more recently by staff at The Village in Hanover.
Cremation has taken place. Information will be announced at a later date regarding Isabel’s Memorial Service and Order of the Eastern Star Ritual.
The new Markdale Hospital construction is currently underway. Expressions of Isabel’s remembrance are appreciated to the Centre Grey Health Services Foundation – Building Fund, or the charity of your choice.
Condolences and memorial donations may be arranged through May Funeral Home, 63 Main Street East, Box 423, Markdale, ON N0C 1H0 (519-986-3310) www.mayfh.ca.
- First Name : Isabel
- Last Name : Thistlethwaite
- Funeral Home : May Funeral Home, Markdale
- URL : https://www.mayfh.ca/obituary/isabel-thistlethwaite
