HILDRETH, Susan Joan passed away peacefully in her sleep, from complications due to congestive heart failure on Thursday, July 14, 2016 at West Haldimand General Hospital in her 86th year.Dear aunt of Charlotte (Dan) O'Brien, Melinda (Gurney) Fenney of Port Dover, Joe (JoAnne) Gurney of Cambridge and Darryl Gurney of BC. Great aunt of Jessica (Derek) Foreman, Nicole O'Brien and Mark, Matthew and David Gurney. She is also survived by four great great nieces and nephews. Fondly remembered by her brother-in-law Martin Gurney of Port Dover. Predeceased by her parents Vincent and Florence and only sister, Margaret.
"Auntie Sue" played a significant role in her nieces and nephews childhoods’ and is fondly remembered by her great nieces and nephews for an annual Christmas shopping expedition to the bookstore where she shared her love of reading with the younger generations.Briefly married and childless, she devoted her time and energy to young people in and out of the classroom, as a teacher and also with her involvement for many years in CGIT (Canadian Girls in Training).She was born and educated in Hamilton and after graduating from Hamilton Collegiate Institute, worked for the Royal Bank of Canada. After attending Hamilton Teachers' College, Susan began teaching for the Hamilton Board in 1960. She obtained her B.A. in Geography from McMaster University and her M.Ed. from OISE (UofT) in Educational Administration.Susan has been very active in local and provincial Federation work. She served on the Hamilton WTA executive in many capacities, including the Presidency (1973-74). She worked on the EPC, both as a WTA member and as a representative for the Hamilton Principals' Association.Susan taught grades 2 to 8. Her contributions to the Hamilton Board were recognized through her promotion to Vice-Principal, and later Principal of Peace Memorial, Huntington and Red Hill schools.Susan's provincial activities have included several FWTAO committees, such as the Socialization of Students Conference Committee, the Joint Work Group on Collective Bargaining and the Legislation Committee. She was on the Board of Directors from 1977 to 1988 and on the FWTAO Executive and the OTF Board of Governors.As one of her colleagues said, "Who can forget the stirring speech Susan gave when she became our provincial President? She outlined her awakening to the need for FWTAO to exist. It took courage to address the delegates and admit that she had changed her mind, that she had been wrong. Susan never shirks from the difficult. She sets a high standard for the rest of us to follow."
Many of Susan's colleagues have commented on her tenacity, forthrightness and fairness in debates, which had garnered her respect and admiration in her political endeavors. Over the years she was in a position to mentor and encourage a number of her younger counterparts.After her term as FWTAO President in 1983-84, Susan served as Past-President, as a member of the Advisory Board and as a Director of CTF. Susan was the FWTAO Superannuation Commissioner from 1987-1989 and a member of the Adjudications Committee of the Teachers' Pension Plan Board from 1989-1991.In 1981 Susan was the recipient of the Hamilton WTA Diamond Jubilee award and in 1984 she was made a Fellow of the Ontario Teachers' Federation.
During her Presidency and her years of Federation involvement since the early 1970s, Susan was a tireless promoter of affirmative action for equal opportunities for women in education. She also encouraged and inspired her colleagues to be politically active in their roles as teachers. She spoke out against the attitudes and “hate literature” (in the form of pornography) regarding women.Since retiring in 1991, Susan divided her time between her cottage in Port Dover on the shore of Lake Erie and a 30-foot trailer, which she used to avoid the snow and travelled across North America. Susan loved dogs, birdwatching, enjoyed water sports and was an avid downhill skier. Throughout the years, her many trips have taken her around the world. She always joked, that it was her ambition to "die broke".Susan was extremely well-read, well-spoken, well-travelled and well-respected. She will be greatly missed.Many thanks and appreciation to all the staff at Leisure Living, Jarvis.A private family gathering will be held a later date.Arrangements entrusted to THOMPSON WATERS FUNERAL HOME, 102 First Ave., Port Dover (519-583-1530). For those wishing, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated. Online donations and or condolences can be made at www.thompsonwatersfuneralhome.ca