Valerie June Tonkin, 93, of London Ontario, passed away on 06 March 2023. Born to parents Sidney and Iris Parker, on 25 November 1929 in Pontypridd, Wales, co-incidentally, the birthplace of Tom Jones. (Mum never tired of telling this somewhat obscure fact to anyone she believed needed to know!)
Valerie met John Tonkin in 1947. They were married on 25 September 1950 in Cardiff, Wales. Together they raised 3 children: Pam, Chris and Allen.
After leaving school at the early age of 14, Val persuaded her Dad to enroll her in a private Secretarial College in Cardiff. Sid also provided a bicycle for transportation. Shorthand & typing skills of incredible speed and accuracy stood her in good stead over the next 50 years. Starting as a typist in Cardiff in 1944 Val was never out of work until she and John started a family and for a time became a Stay-at-Home Mum. Returning to secretarial work in 1961, her bosses begged her to reconsider when she announced her resignation in 1965 in order to immigrate to Canada. Thinking of it as a bit of an adventure, she told her parents to expect the family back in 18 months. It turned out to be 58 years! Throughout that time Val & John made many new friends who became as close as family and Aunty Val to so many of their children.
Val obtained work within a week of arriving in Canada. After a few shorter term positions in 1968 she started work in the Executive Offices at the old Victoria Hospital meeting forever friends Alison and Margaret. In 1972 she was one of the first employees to walk through the doors at the, then brand new, University Hospital. She always said that her proudest accomplishment was being part of Dr Raymond Heimbecker’s Cardiology Team. After 25 years of working as Departmental Secretary, she retired to enjoy more time with her family and so many,many friends. Val & John travelled widely and they maintained contact with fellow travellers from all over the world. Val always, as she would put it, had her nose in a book. She loved singingand secretly had always wanted to be on the stage, acting or dancing. Her friends at Richmond Woods named her ‘Singing and Dancing Valerie’ as she was always the one to encourage a ‘singsong’ and the first to be up on thefloor if space allowed dancing.
Valerie is survived by her daughter Pam Scott (Tony) and sons Chris Tonkin (Rosemary) and Allen Tonkin (Jade). Grandchildren Megan, Gareth & Chantelle, Michael and Brianna and Dylan. Great Grandchildren Reece, Anthony, Rylee and Aubrey. A second Mother to her sister Marge’s family in Wales; Ross, Jeremy and Deborah, as well as sister Betty’s daughter; Suzanne. It was a special blessing for Val to reconnect with John’s nephew David and his wife Elizabeth who visited our family and maintained in touch with many phone calls and letters in the final years of Val and John’s lives.
The family has entrusted Harris Funeral Home with the arrangements. Cremation has taken place. As per Valerie’s wishes a Celebration Of Her Life will be held this Summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Joseph’s Hospice, CMHA or a Charity of your choice.