Willow Bertha Ingham (Nee Bain) – Mother of Jane Thompson
Willow passed away peacefully on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the age of 97. Loving wife of the late George Austin Ingham (August 2000). Cherished Mother of Jane Thompson (John) Brian Ingham (Carole), Wendy Mitchell (James) and Scott Ingham. Devoted grandmother of Tanya, Kevin, Matthew, Andrea, Laura, Blake, Victoria, Sarah and Gordon and great-grandmother of Jesse, Liam, Alida and Marilla. Predeceased by brother Roy. Willow had a wonderful life as a student, teacher, wife, mom, grandmother, world traveler, athlete, nature and music lover and as a friend to many especially her children. Raised in Sudbury, Ontario Mom excelled in the classroom, on the stage, on the dance floor, the tennis court and the hockey rink. While studying English literature at the University of Toronto, Willow, or Billie as she was called then, was chosen to be captain of the Victoria College Womens Hockey team for three consecutive years. Willow and George married in 1947 living first in Elmira, then Niagara Falls where they built their first home, settling eventually in Etobicoke. There they raised their four children. In 1971 they moved on to Ottawa and for many years enjoyed tennis and sailing at the Britannia Yacht Club, monthly attendance at the Ottawa Little Theatre, participation in the Canadian Federation of University Women and a number of French Conversation, bridge, tennis and Scottish Country dancing adventures. On weekends from early spring to late fall and for much of the summer, Mom and Dad resided at their beloved cottage on Six Mile Lake in Muskoka. When she was widowed in 2000 Willow made Midland her new home in order to be much closer to this family gathering spot. Although Willow was a competitive tennis player into her eighties, she will most likely be remembered for her quick wit and her propensity to break into song or verse almost anytime and anywhere even at the scrabble or bridge table. Her full repertoire remained intact right up until her last days and for this we are grateful. Strong willed, sometimes feisty (that was the Scot in her) forever sensible, interested and interesting and in her later years very funny…she was a true mentor to her children and partner for her husband. She will be forever loved and appreciated by those whom she knew. We owe a debt of gratitude to both the Villa Retirement Lodge in Midland and the John M. Parrott Centre in Napanee for the respectful, compassionate care provided for Willow in her final years. Cremation has taken place and Mom will join her husband in Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa in the summer when we can also scatter some of her ashes at Six Mile Lake. A celebration of life is planned for that time. Memorial donations may be directed to Reaching for Rainbows, reachingforrainbows.com then click on Donate 4-H Ontario – contact Catherine Smart at [email protected]