July 11, 1921 to December 23, 2022
After a short illness, Grace Eleanor Melvin passed away at the age of 101 on December 23, 2022 as a fierce storm gripped most of North America. During her last few days Grace was supported and cared for by her family and the amazing team of health care professionals at Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in Orillia. We would like to extend a very special thanks to Dr. Aaron Barnett and his resident.
Until a few weeks before her passing, Grace had enjoyed an extraordinary quality of life. She remained in her own home until the age of 94 and then lived at Leacock Retirement Lodge in Orillia where she was closely attended to by their excellent staff, with her daughter Gail and her husband Bill (Higginson) acting as her principal advocates and care givers.
In 2006 Grace survived the loss of her husband of over 60 years, Ralph Melvin of Bracebridge. Since his death 16 years ago, Ralph’s memory burned brightly every day she lived without the love of her life. She was also predeceased by her much-loved daughter, Dawn, in 2013.
Grace spent half of her adult life as a fondly remembered Teacher and Guidance Counsellor at Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School while maintaining her role as a homemaker, mother of Dawn, Gail (Bill) and David (Marie Ange) and grandmother to Erika (Rob), Nicholas (Cara), Kevin (Lisa), Emilie (Mathieu) and Ian. She embraced all things creative; cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, smocking, quilting, and gardening avidly throughout her years.
Grace and Ralph’s Richard St. home in Bracebridge was always open to family, friends, and neighbours and was most often filled with conversation, laughter, and the pleasant aromas of baking and freshly made meals ready to serve. Holiday times were most memorable with everyone flocking to Bracebridge and gathering around the overfilled and welcoming table.
Grace was the epitome of a wise, kind, and attentive Grandmother and Nana. She welcomed several grandchildren for extended stays in support of her own children as they learned the knack of parenting that she had mastered over the decades. Her grandchildren all learned many things at her knee and have embraced similar values in their own lives.
We will miss her dearly but the deep influence she had on all our lives means we will remember mostly the warmth, caring and comfort she was always there to provide. She and Ralph will continue to live on with joy, laughter, and love in all of our memories.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital https://osmhfoundation.ca/donate/ or to the construction of the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in the town of Bracebridge https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/m/41247?v1=true
Arrangements entrusted to Reynolds Funeral Home