In Memory of

Jean

Alison

Cunningham

Obituary for Jean Alison Cunningham

Cunningham, Jean Alison (nee Young):
Feb. 1939 - Dec. 2020

After a long courageous battle with cancer, Jean passed away quietly at Grand River Hospital, on December 31st, 2020, aged 81.

Jean is survived by her husband of 59 and a half years, James, her daughters Marion (William) Tilford and Susan Cunningham, and her grandchildren Duncan and Nyssa Tilford.

Jean was born in Falkirk, Scotland, on February 27, 1939. The only child of William Young and Margaret (Peggie) MacDonald. After graduating from Falkirk High School, Jean attended Logan and Johnston Nursing College in Glasgow and then trained as a registered nurse in the Western Infirmary, Glasgow and later as a midwife in Falkirk Royal Infirmary.

In August of 1966, Jean with her family emigrated to Canada and took up residence in Kitchener-Waterloo. Jean served as a nurse and midwife in both KW (Grand River) Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital. Jean also worked for a time as the office nurse for Dr. Wm. Nurse.

In late 1976, the family moved to Milton, Ontario and Jean served as a nurse in Maplehurst Correction Centre and in a retirement home in Milton. In 1992, the family returned to Kitchener-Waterloo and Jean served as the executive director of the Home Support Program in Cambridge, until her retirement in 1998.

Jean has a love for singing, especially church music, and was always a member of the choir in the church of which she was a member.

Jean was a founding member of the Robert Burns Association of North America, which honours Scotland's National Bard Robert Burns and served two terms as secretary/treasurer. She was currently a member of the Halton/Peel Burns Club.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 4th, 2021 at Doon Presbyterian Church, 35 Roos Street, Kitchener. Interment to follow at Doon Presbyterian Cemetery. For those unable to attend, Jean's service may be viewed via livestream at https://www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming

Arrangements entrusted to the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 519-749-8467.

The family would like to thank Dr. Norman Bodkin, the nurses and staff at Grand River Hospital Unit 5A for the excellent care and compassion they showed to both Jean and her family.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Doon Presbyterian Church or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated by the family (cards available at the funeral home).

Visit www.henrywalser.com for Jean's memorial.

"If there is another world,
She lives in bliss.
If there is none,
She made the best of this."
- Robert Burns